Monday, March 31, 2014

The Raw Deal


A few weeks ago I went for lunch with a friend to a raw vegan restaurant in Santa Monica called Euphoria Loves Rawvolution. The Rawvolution logo is a drawing of a naked hippy couple kissing. They offer hemp seed tabouli and there is a kelp noodle section on the menu. This would usually be more than enough to have me run screaming to the nearest In N Out, but instead I paused and noticed something about the folks in this place. They all looked amazing. They were healthy with great skin and clear eyes. I don't think it was just because I was on the west side. I wanted what they had.

Digestive problems have been my normal for many years. I have tried cutting out gluten, limiting lactose, eliminating food coloring and additives. I have juice cleansed and Master Cleansed, all in search of a day free of stomachaches and other “issues.” Ahem. I just wanted to feel better. 

The next day I committed to one week of raw vegan eating, but first I had to figure out what that meant. 

According to Wikipedia, Raw Veganism excludes all food and products of animal origin, as well as food cooked at a temperature above 118 °F). A raw vegan diet includes raw vegetables and fruits, nuts and nut pastes, grain and legume sprouts, seeds, plant oils, sea vegetables, herbs, and fresh juices. There are many different versions of the diet, including fruitarianism, juicearianism, and sproutarianism. The definition of a raw vegan diet can be loosened to include vegan diets with at least 75–80% raw foods. I went to the nearest Whole Foods and wandered around. 

When Eleanor Roosevelt said,” You must do the thing you think you cannot do,” I believe she was referring to eating “cashew cheese.” There are a lot of raw vegan recipes on the internet that are quite involved and sound sort of terrible. I decided to go slow. The first few days I was eating a lot of raw fruits and vegetables and throwing in some kimchee and gallons of guacamole. I was trying to find my way. I was feeling pretty good, never hungry, and drinking less coffee. (Oh yeah, I decided to keep my non-raw coffee habit because coffee is my co-pilot.) I had shed a few pounds and even when eating in a restaurant I was able to find something that wasn’t off limits. 

I committed to another week. 

The first few days of  week two, I got the stomach flu. At first I thought it might be a reaction to my new “lifestyle,” but poor Bob had it too and he was eating his usual fare. I ate a lot of bananas. I ate coconut oil. I made it through. 

At an LA vegan place, CafĂ© Gratitude, I ordered a raw wrap called, “I Am Happy.” I was self-conscious when I ordered so I just asked for “The Happy,” like that somehow made it okay.  When my to-go order was ready I was asked the question of the day, “What are you exploring?” I was exploring why I couldn’t order food at this place that didn’t sound like a bumper sticker on the back of a VW van.  The wrap was good though, probably because I hadn’t eaten anything that resembled a real sandwich in a few weeks. 

I am now in my third week of raw. My digestive issues are gone. I feel pretty good.  I am learning how to do this without handing over my wallet at Whole Foods. I do think this way of eating would be more palatable to the masses without the 1969 zen-style theme running through everything. But what do I know? It’s working for me. So far. 

Namaste. (Just kidding. Sort of.)




Sunday, March 30, 2014

Smacksy Sunday Links


Mr. Rosenberg has returned from Japan and Teddy is delighted. 
(We all are.)

Interesting read about gathering possessions.

These are fascinating photos from around the world of where children sleep.

And a joyful jumping dog.

Happy Sunday.



Friday, March 28, 2014

Outfield


"Did you have fun tonight at practice, Bob?"

"Yeah. I hit the ball okay."

"And you stopped a couple of balls too."

"Yeah but I stopped them with my tummy, not my mitt."


Thursday, March 27, 2014

Field Tripper


"What was your favorite part about the zoo today, Bob?'

"Definitely the bear."

"Why is that?"

"First he was sleeping with his feet in the air and then later we saw him sleeping on the edge of that cliff and I know he sleeps a long time during the winter. I could totally be a bear, maybe."






Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Little Faces


"Hey, Mom. Did you see? Desmond's dad grew a beard."

"I did see that."

"Now that means that Desmond's dad and Felix's dad and Dad all have beards."

"Yep. Are you and Desmond and Felix going to all grow beards now too?"

"Come on, Mom. We're not exactly men."



Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Blue Plate Special


"Mom? Since you don't feel good and Dad's in Japan, can I have cold cereal for dinner?"

"Yes."

"Wait, what?"

"You can have cold cereal for dinner."

"Wow. Okay. So, can I have this package of Starbursts for dinner too?"



Sunday, March 23, 2014

Bests



"Felix, what's your favorite song?"

"'Everything Is Awesome.'"

"I like that one too."

"Who's your favorite Lego Movie character?"

"Emett."

"Okay, here's a hard one. What's your favorite potty word? You can only choose one."









Smacksy Sunday Links


Some good thoughts on the importance of hospitality.

Watch this physicist as he learns that his theory about the big bang is correct.

Here are 20 iconic bands recreated in Lego.

And beautiful photos of rescued animals.

Happy Sunday.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Catching It


"I don't think I want to be catcher anymore, Mom."

"Why is that?"

"You get hit a lot when you're catcher."

"I thought you just got it that one time in the leg."

"No, I also got it in the shoulder, the arm, and another place I will have to whisper in your ear."





Thursday, March 20, 2014

Stay



"Teddy! Come here boy! Teddypants! It's time to go outside! Come, Teddy! Here we go, Buddy. Come on! How about a snack? Do you want a cookie, Good Boy? Do you? Well, come here then! Come here! Come! Come over here! Tedman! What are you doing? It's time to come over here. Let's go outside. Look! I'll go with you! Ted? Where's your ball? Go get your ball! Go get it! Get it Teddy! Teddy? Its outside time! Tedders! Come on, Boy! Really? What's going on? Okay, Teddy. Just lay down. Good boy. Where are you going? Ted? Teddy?"



Wednesday, March 19, 2014

It's Just Like That, Sort Of


"Mom? I figured something out."

"What's that?"

"Remember that time I was on the playground with Geon-he and he threw up?"

"I remember the story, yes."

"When he barfed it made me want to barf too."

"That happens."

"Yeah, so a barf is just like a yawn because you can give one to someone else when you do it. You know, like a present."



Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Bro Time


"How was hanging out with the guys?"

"Good. We played Legos and brothers and dodge-arrows."

"How do you play 'brothers?'"

"Well this time, Felix and I were the little brothers and Desmond was the big brother and he took care of us."

"How did he do?"

"He was a natural."



Monday, March 17, 2014

New Project


"Mom? What if we could go in someone else's body and feel what they're feeling?"

"That's an interesting idea."

"Yeah, like if you were feeling sad you could go in a happy person and then you'd be happy. Or if you were happy you could go inside a sad person and make them happy too."

"Sounds handy."

"I'll work on it."

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Hairdo


Bob had his first professional haircut today. I have retired my services. Everyone is relieved.




Friday, March 14, 2014

First Practice of the Season


It's that time of the year again - the time of year where the words "good hustle" become part of our vocabulary.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

And I Love It


"Bob, hold on. Watch it, I'm holding hot coffee. Boy, sometimes it can be hard sitting next to you."

"Why?"

"Well, you're constantly moving and making noises and jumping and wiggling and being seven years-old."

"Seven and five-sixths."





Wednesday, March 12, 2014

The Marathon Man Update


Thanks for all of your concern, everyone. Jeff is doing great. His doctors believe that it was the heat of the day that pushed him out of the race. He has promised not to run another marathon... when it's hot outside.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Tiny Java


"Mom? Look there's a coffee maker as part of my police station set."

"They say police officers drink a lot of coffee."

"Yeah but Mom, you drink a lot of coffee."

"That's true. And I do love that little coffee maker."

"I knew you would. It's like Me = Lego plus You = coffee. You should post a picture of it on your blog, Mom."



Monday, March 10, 2014

Dad's Marathon


"So today was weird. We got up super early so we could take Dad to the Dodger Stadium so he could start the Marathon. He ran and ran and ran and it was super hot. He got to mile number twenty and then he got really dizzy and so he went to a medical tent and layed down on a little bed that had plastic wrap on it. Me and mom got there and then the fireman said we all had to go with dad in a ambulance. I was worried about Dad a lot. The siren was really loud. I sat in a seat in the back that had its own seatbelt. When we got to the hospital, the paramedic told me to "DC." That means to "disconnect" your seatbelt in paramedic-talk. So, I DCd and then we all went in the hospital emergency part.

"We went in a little room and Dad got connected to wires and stuff. The doctor said that Dad was un-hydrated and there was a kidney thing and that Dad would be okay. I got super hungry so me and mom went to the hospital cafeterium and got a ham and cheese sandwich and a yogurt and sun chips. Mom had coffee. The yogurt was a strawberry one. We went back in Dad's room and waited a long time. Mom had crayons in her purse, and Fig Newtons, and crayons, and chocolate kisses, and a Christmas book so we did some stuff. Then Mom and I got to ride in a taxi cab back to where the car was and then we drove back to the hospital and then the doctor said that Dad could go home. We're taking him to his doctor for a check-in tomorrow but that other doctor was right. Dad's going to be okay. And that sandwich was pretty good. I fell asleep in the car on the way home."






Friday, March 7, 2014

Mementos


Today I did some more unpacking. I unpacked this photo taken of me in Texas at my grandmother's house. I also unpacked the vase pictured next to me.




Thursday, March 6, 2014

Unpacking


"Mom? Did you find my homework?"

"Not yet. I think it might be in one of those boxes in the living room."

"Mom?"

"Yeah?'

"Everything we own is in one of those boxes in the living room."




Wednesday, March 5, 2014

It's Ash Wednesday


"Bob? Have you thought about giving up something for Lent?"

"I could give up making this face - blah blah blaaaaaaah. Like that."

"Seriously."

"I could give up doing this funny voice - helloooooooo! You know that one?"

"Let's be real for a minute. I'm going to give up complaining."

"That's a good one, Mom. I'll give up complaining tooooooooooo helloooooooo blah blah blaaaaaaah!"




Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Vocabs


"Hold on for a sec, Bob. I feel a little queasy. Do you know what queasy means?"

"Yeah, it means like seasick. I know that because Queasy Kitty is on Metalbeard's ship."

"Okay, I don't know what that means."

"Mom? Are you going to upchuck? I learned that word from 'Beezus and Ramona.'"






Monday, March 3, 2014

Dim Sum


"We're going to dim sum tomorrow, Bob."

"What's that?"

"It's like a Chinese brunch."

"I don't know if I want to do that. I never did that before."

"You have. A few times. In fact, when you were a baby the first solid food you ever had was at dim sum. It was shumai, I think."

"Okay, but back then, I really didn't know what I was doing."











Saturday, March 1, 2014

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Kai-o-dey


"Kaiodey" or the less interesting, more traditional spelling - "Coyote"