The Journey Begins

New York to Seattle Washington by way of the southwest.  We are in the middle of our journey about to pack up and head to our next destination.  Sedona, AZ has been great to us and presented motivation to keep all friends and family up to date on our travels.  The miles are adding up, almost at 3,000 so far.  The road is a great place to be, we have been meeting some fascinating people and seeing some amazing sites.  Only so much can be written. Our Driveabout so far: Richmond, VA:  Debbi surprised us with some homemade Eggplant Parmigiana, yum.  Went to Debbi & Ed's favorite little jazz place and experienced some great music.  It was a quick stop, but so great to see Debbi & Ed, & the dogs.  Crossing over the Blue Ridge Mountains was pretty spectacular.  I think Kelly and I found a new love for the beauty in Virginia. Nashville, TN:  Country Music and fried pickles.  Only one is good, can you guess which? Memphis TN: Best Ribs on my life.  No question.  You can order the vacuum sealed seasoned spectacular. Charles Vergos' Rendezvous Charcoal Ribs.  And well there is Elvis, we have never seen so many gold records in our lives (next to the carpet on the ceiling of course... Yes there is green carpet on his ceiling in his party room... Those of you who lived through the 70's probably aren't too surprised by that).  If you didn't guess by now, this is Elvis's couch in the 'Jungle Room'. Hot Springs, AR: Dilapidated Victorian mansions show the reminisce of a once thriving oasis.  Natural hot springs feed these beautiful bath houses, bringing the Roman bath to the early 20th century.  Tucked away in Arkansas, a hidden gem. Amarillo, TX:  Well, West Texas.  We don't want to offend anyone, but it is West Texas.  A free 72oz steak if you can eat it in under an hour (plus a couple of sides).  We had the police chauffeur us in and out of the restaurant because the WWE was in town with crazy fans outside.  We saw the wrestler Big Show, he literally sat on a chair and it collapsed! Santa Fe, NM:  One of Kelly's favorites so far.  It feels like the center of Native American Art.  We got to see Jed's business, The Shiprock Trading Post, the most beautiful gallery we saw (we are NOT being biased).  Not too dog friendly of a city, for we had animal control called on us when we tied Cassius up outside a restaurant for 15 min.  We bought a great piece of Zuni Pueblo Pottery.  Jackalope furniture, sat next to our Silver Saddle motel and held great pieces, we found a flawless deer skull.  Tons of great Salsa and people. Gallop, NM:  Quick stop. We stayed in the famous El Rancho Hotel, where old western movie stars frequented.  The history was interesting, the food - not so much. Petrified Forest National Park:  The sheer energy in that wood, wow.  Every stop we made we had ancient Native Spirits in the insanely large crows, protecting each area like sentinels.  Kelly is certain they were Chief Spirits.
Sedona, AZ:  We have spent the past week on a spiritual retreat, soaking up the essence of what it means to be alive.  So much personal and shared growth has occurred.  The energy here is trans-formative.   We both feel almost bombarded from it all, it will take us a good amount of time to fully digest.

 
Now off to the Grand Canyon, then Scottsdale, then who knows.... But eventually we will be in Seattle!

Happy Holidays!

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.

Happy Holidays!

Sugar Sand

What is great about the Ocean is that it is always different. Anyone who has lived on or near the ocean will tell you that no two days are alike. This shot was taken in Gulf Shores, AL on what used to be called Baldwin Beach. Now it is simply known as West Beach. It is tucked right near the sand spit that opens to Mobile Bay. A beautiful area that in essence what sub-tropical Gulf of Mexico is. It is a very bountiful land with great fishing, 80 degree summer water, & endless 'sugar sand' beaches.

I took this photo on a common sunset stroll down the beach, on an uncommon clear sky of a night. Mobile Bay brews a many storms throughout the year. I am lucky though because where our house is, very often will not be hit by what the bay brews up. Unless of course a Hurricane is on its way. One can see purple electrical storms over the water all night, with only a brief drizzle over head. It is truly a remarkable place.

This shot was taken with a Canon Rebel XT, Aperture 5.6, ISO 200, 1/20 shutter speed. I think what came out is something majestic. Showing a calm night in a place that seems to never be calm.



Enjoy.

The Anatomy of Gumbo

Speeding through the last few pages of my newest pleasure, In Defense of Food an Eater's Manefesto, I come bearing a few words of pleasure, habit, & truth. My beautiful wife is stirring up one of my greatest pleasures in food... Gumbo (mmmm, yes, that's right)! The traditional New Orleans fare is our current ambition to master. Good food, tradition and companionship is the most essential part of culture- Defining the core of what all of us value. Here is a link to Kelly's favorite online cookbook: 101 CookBooks, by Heidi Swanson (which Kel references multipul times a week for scrumptious homecooked vegetarian fare). Search for Vegetarian Gumbo Recipe and add some good turkey sausage and maybe a good Las Palomas cocktail and join us.

Michael Pollan's book, In Defense of Food an Eater's Manefesto; outlines much truth in our societies habits concerning food. While I dwell over the dubbed term 'The French Paradox' which brings light to the opposition between French and American eating habits; whereby the F'ies maintain (and have for hunderes of years) a high cost, high fat, small portion intake, with overall far higher health ratios comparitively. The Americans, in contrast, have come to maintain this kind of brian-washed ideal of cheap, chemically induced mass-produced food. When will we open our eyes to this inter-cultural reliance and acceptance of the spread of such conglomerates as Wal-Mart, Costco and all other mass production food chains which supports not only the concept of over- consumpumtion but over-conception? Each of which paralleling on the notion of living beyond our means, over-consumtion to such a level that is beyond what is both not good for us as indidividuals as much as it as not good for our earth (Monsanto cares nothing of our health or our earth).
In Pollan brings to light mind-numbing statistics such as Americans eating a fifth of all their meals in the car, or how Americans spend the least amount of their disposable income (9%) than any other industrial society while eating upward of 30% more than any other industrial society; I ponder. Anyone who has not read this alarmingly eye-opening piece by Pollan, needs to educate themselves on the effects of what our government has instilled in our mind. An Eater's Manifesto has given me a goal to maintain alongside my wife... to eat an entirely vegetable-based salad for every lunch I can. Reading this book has illuminated my vision on eating healthy, or should I say eating to preventing chronic disease named after what has been called 'The Western Diet'.

I challenge us all to get to know your farmer. Asking them how they grew the food we all consume and begin to understand the more we know, the more care in the thing we consume, the more we can truly appreciate ourselves. The 1st grade term of we are what we eat holds true, and it wasn't until I read this book did I really do some soul searching in understanding why what food I consume and how I consume it really effects my life. Enjoying a home cooked meal of locally grow produce with my beautiful wife, laughing over life's challenges and triumphs is the root of culture, & most importantly happiness. If we can't enjoy every bite with the ones we love; what are we spending our time doing. Eating a microwave dinner, with a can full of high-fructose corn syrup in front of a T.V. is not living, it's dieing. I apologize if I have offended anyone, but dig deep and think. I believe that a stronger connection to our food will only enhance life. The extra time spent eating, speaking, cooking will only grow our personal happiness.

I leave this entry with a painted picture. My best-friend, lover, & wife cooking up a tasty meal that originated in the city we got engaged (& spend our 1 yr anniversary) listing to some great music, drinking, eating, smiling, and laughing. It is what life is all about.

A misson for guacamole with ironic and dissapointing outcomes

After a long drive to our most enjoyable Mexican fare on the east coast we found ironic hardship. Waking up to plan our day of a large afternoon meal revolving around great margaritas and killer guacamole, we both were excited. With the large yellow building in sight, saliva glands hitting on all cylinders I thought out loud and said 'What if it is closed, what would we do?'. We pulled into the parking lot to find the windows and doors boarded up. Damn, we just drove 45 minutes of anticipation and it looks like the building is abandoned. Kelly points out to look at the roof, Black. A kitchen fire has struck the building. It was very disappointing. After a glance over my left shoulder I noticed that across the street there was a fully operational fire station.

Are you serious? How could this happen.

What do we end up with? 'Sante Fe restaurant', believe me there was nothing 'Santa Fe' about it at all. Note to all- don't get between a man and his guac!



The Power of the Avocado:

First of all- The word "avocado" comes from the Nahuatl word āhuacatl ("testicle", a reference to the shape of the fruit). Native Americans looked up to this tasty fruit hanging in the trees and this is the name they came up with?


High avocado intake has been shown to have an impact on blood serum cholesterol levels. Specifically, after a seven day diet rich in avocados, hypercholesterolemia patients showed a 17% decrease in total serum cholesterol levels. These subjects also showed a 22% decrease in both LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels and 11% increase in HDL (good cholesterol) levels. Source

That is enough for me to eat at least a few avocados a week!

The Week of Love

While most of my entries have been regarding my frustration with people and topics about the economy. I been given the strong desire to share joy. The joy of happiness, the joy of not having hardship and the joy of having a beautiful & caring wife. I have designated this week to be the week of love. Every day leading up to Saturday I have made a commitment to be positive while things in my surroundings are negative (economy), and to show the one I love how much good she brings out in me. I ask for all who read this blog to do the same, no matter how stressful, painful, and bleak life is- Simply be genuinely positive with your outlook. See what happens and what becomes of you.

I met my wife, Kelly, when I first received a taste of true happiness. She has filled my life with complete and utter joy. There isn't a moment that passes that I don't wish to spend more time with her, and give her all that wants, needs, and desires.

Below is a piece of our Grecian Honeymoon to help all understand the power & grandness of love.

This picture was taken on a catamaran traveling inside the volcano of Santorini. We arrived to this romantic island by water ferry from the island of MyKonos. This Island holds a few small town on top of it's volcanic crest 5000 feet or so up. The volcanic hill sides are covered in homes that are literally dug into the hill. It is majestic how the white washed Greek home roll across the crest of this volcano.

The day after our arrival and new introduction to a terrific Grecian fare, Santorini Tomato Fritters, we headed to the opposite side of the island to meet our private boat and crew for a afternoon of swimming, boating and dining. After meeting our new friendly Aussy Captain and deck hand we set sail for 3 beaches. Santorini is the only place in the world that has 3 different type of sand beaches, a white, a red, and black sand beach that are literally a couple of miles apart. Quite remarkable really. Truth be told, we 'forgot' our swim suits thinking this was simply a dinner cruise so when we were given our itinerary we were a little shocked. We decided that we would probably not be swimming. We pulled into the first stop, a cascading slope of bleached white sand cliff side flowing into a seemingly abandoned beach area. Kelly and I looked at each other with nobody in sight for miles (except our crew) and tore or clothes off and jumped into the 70+ degree Aegean Sea. After floating for a period of time and having explored rock formations in utter bliss, we headed back to our floating romantic vessel. Off we went, being served terrific Sauvignon Blanc, we laughed at the carefree spirit for which we just partaken in.

Shortly after our laugh we pulled into the black sand beach. Well, holding nothing back in this post- we dropped our towels for another dip into Poseidon's front porch. Diving down to grasp handfuls of black volcanic sand we couldn't help but have a grin from ear to ear, amazed by the vastness of our isolation. Back to the boat we went, for another glass of wine and off we went to beach number 3, the red sand beach. At the Red sand beach we decided to pass on the dip and instead had another glass of vino.

Our last leg of our water journey took a little detour to the center of Santorini's volcano. There is a little island of newer bedrock that holds a sulfur hot spring bubbling up 100+ degree sulfur. Sulfur is known to be very good for your skin no matter how bad it tastes. To get to the center of the spring it was about a 1/4 mile swim. This small island was deep black basalt, coated with sulfur and with hundreds of names cut into the rock. The deeper back, the less names appeared. 'Did we come all the way across the world to pass on the opportunity to feel the center of the world?' Hell no. I dove in head first to see how much sulfur I could handle. It was a once in a lifetime experience, to feel so much raw power coating your body and gliding deeper to the source with the one you love. It was at the heart of things, so delicate and entrancing. A sense of exuberance filled both of our minds with not only excitement, but also a dash of fear.

After our swim back and shower, (sulfur is VERY potent) our lovely crew had fresh squid and pork on the grill for us. We dined the night away basking in our love for each other. This what life is about, sharing such once in a lifetime experiences with the one you love and realizing that love. Feeling such strong and differing emotions, only to have pure content and happiness with your best friend. It has a profound effect on the mind, body and soul.