Consequently, I must eat healthily, breathe healthily, and exercise regularly. I dusted off my “4 hour body” book and skimmed the ways of Tim Ferriss. The health diet is quite manageable—something not too far off from the one I’m accustom to anyway which involves plenty of protein and vegetables. The white carbs I can do without since I don’t crave them really, except for pepperoni and jalapeno pizza. I don’t have a sweet tooth, so that’s OK too. I need to focus on regular exercise, especially something as mundane as swimming. Well, I have no choice if I want to pass this race.

Mache greents, grass fed skirt steak, and beets from my backyard

grass fed skirt steak, broccolini, and two hard boiled eggs

—

I developed an interest in Muay Thai, so I started training for that recently. Three classes so far and very bruised shins. I’m hoping I’ll become stronger soon because it stings so much whenever I tap the punching bag with my shin. My punches are still wussy-like, but I have hope.

My restaurant concept is coming along, albeit slowly. Very slowly. Like a turtle with two legs and thorns in each paw.

My brother got me into reddit today, so I’ve become a big fan.

A month ago, my friend gave me another chance to draw something for his art exhibit, so naturally, I waited until the last week before it’s due to work on it.

I wish the political fuss over gay marriage would end. We spend eons restricting those who want to and should be treated equally, but we can’t afford a second more to bring justice to monsters who have created financial ruin for many people in the world. Priorities are so screwed up.

Really uninteresting updates, but updates they are. Sweet dreams to planet Earth and all the other planets in the universe.

I used to get goose bumps at the suggestion of a vegan restaurant or veggy juice, puke.  Now, I look forward to both.  Like I’ve mentioned before, I’m a person of extremes, black-white.  Grey is for dead things.

So, I invested in a professional grade juicer (hopefully it will be a good wheatgrass juicer too since I don’t want to buy another one).  Some people buy snowboards, I buy a juicer.  I have another Breville juicer that wastes a lot of the veggies/fruit (8 + cups of pulp!), so I bought this one recommended by my juicing friends.

I also got a Sous Vide Supreme.  Basically, you can cook any type of meat and/or vegetable in constant temperature water.  All you have to do is season and secure the item in a vacuum sealed bag.  One doesn’t necessarily need a vacuum sealer. I saw this guy on youtube use a plastic bag and straw to suck out the air.  I will probably use that method next time with steaks.

—- Dinner —-

My sister sent a few Niman Ranch beef cuts to us for Christmas.  The uber healthy sort.  You have to appreciate the taste of pure meat to appreciate these steaks.  Much leaner.  I didn’t have time to make anything really during the holidays, so I froze them. I’m thinking they’d taste even more delicious had I cooked them when they were fresh out of the box.

I set the Sous Vide to 134 degrees, seasoned the meat, vacuum sealed them, then put them in the bath to cook for 2.5 hours.

Meanwhile, I made a few other things so we wouldn’t starve until 8:30pm.

Broccoli soup w/ goat cheese. Super tasty and healthy! The easiest recipe on this planet. Thank you Eric Nakamura for sending me this recipe.

I prepared vegetables for my juicer.

Soaked them in fruit and veggie wash for 30 minutes. Then rinsed clean.

Juiced the crap out of them. See how much pulp is left? about 1.5 cups vs. 8+ cups! I composted the pulp so I can use the soil for our garden when the soil it's ready.

Then voila! You get about 2 medium sized cups full of veggies with so many wonderful nutrients that I can't name. But you can google if you're interested.

By the time I finished all of the above + cleaning everything, my steaks were ready! Perfectly medium-rare (more on the medium side) steaks. I will cook the steaks at 130 degrees F vs 134 next time so they're truely medium-rare. I seared the tops and bottms to get the yummy carmelization we all love on our steaks. Next time I will use good ol' fatty antibiotic hormone ridden meat. Or nice organic but fatty meat. I'm not big on lean meats unless its fish.

Therefore, I bought a book about wheatgrass, which didn’t give a thorough explanation on the growing process, but definitely detailed  the health benefits (according to the table of contents).  Most of my research was done through the internet, including youtube.

I want to share this process in case you’re interested in doing it too.  I’ve already made a few mistakes, which i’ve noted below.

Materials:
1. organic red hard wheatgrass seeds
2. (10) 11 x 21 black trays (5) for growing (5) for lidding
3. Organic Potting Mix (good mix of peat moss, perlite, and soil)
4. spay bottle
5. liquid seaweed fertilizer (supposedly one of the most beneficial for plants.  see why here)
6. (2 sprouters) I bought an economical Easy Sprout sprouter.  Should have bought two because I crammed too much in one.

Process
1. soak seeds for 12 hours
2. (repeat for 2 days) rinse and let sit dry.  I think I let the sprouts grow too much AND I packed too many sprouts into one container (the instructions say you can put as many seeds as you want in it, but i’d recommend filling 2/3 full max), so one day should have been sufficient.  I’m not sure how long the sprouts are supposed to be exactly, but mine were thickly intertwined with one another, so I had to use some hard effort to separate the seeds.
3. put soil into the tray and spray with water/fertilizer mix in every layer.  Layer until 1/2″ thick of soil in tray.  I added the soil in two layers to ensure each one got equal water treatment
4. sprinkle sprouted seeds on top of soil.  I think I put too many seeds (see picture).  My book and many websites suggests to spread the seeds thinly which will result in a less dense crop of wheat grass, but will reduce the chances of mold.  2 of the 4 trays I planted are less densely packed with seeds.
5.  Cover with another planter box.  Water twice daily (morning, night).  Ensure enough air circulation to prevent mold.  I will watch the sprouts carefully since I’m allergic to mold.  I have a fan ready in case I see some.  Mold loves the nutrients in soil and warm moist areas and so does wheatgrass, unfortunately. There are numerous ways to curb mold, which you can find on the net.  CROSSING MY FINGERS!

Will update with more pictures each day.

Densely packed sprouts

Rack w/ covered wheatgrass trays. Websites will try to sell you PVC piping. I'd just buy a cheap rack somewhere.

So, when someone “finds” religion later in their life, without parental influence, that event is typically preceded by a singular or series of unfortunate events.  I’ve seen people find religion after a big break-up, or job loss, or something along those lines.  I’ve also seen people embrace it all their lives.

For me, I’ve always felt insignificant in the greater scheme of things.  Not in that “oh-pity-me-im-insignificant” way.. Rather, this world, this universe for that matter, is so incredibly vast beyond anyone’s comprehension, that it makes me getting dumped by a boy seem not all that important anymore–just a tree in the forest, bump in the road, (insert adage here). Yah that sucks I was a victim of a hit-and-run, but it really doesn’t matter so long as I’m still alive and healthy.  In hindsight, all those unfortunate events in my life have always led me to something better.  Or maybe I wouldn’t value the good things in my life as much if I didn’t have some bad events happen to put things into perspective for me.

With that said, I feel like if I try my best to be a good person, not to get angry so quickly, understand people’s motives, that things will always turn out well in the future.   I mean, genuinely be a good person who acts selflessly and not that “if-i-open-the-door-for-this-grandma-i-hope-someone-will-see-me-and-give-me-a-hundred-dollars-for-being-a-good-samaritan” type of person.  With that said, sometimes I do things for selfish reasons. But I try not to.  8)

I have a filter, even though it doesn’t seem like it most of the time.  I just choose whether to listen to my intuition at that particular moment.  Meaning, when your mom says don’t touch the hot pot, you do it anyways.  Difference is, I learn from every mistake.  Doesn’t mean I won’t make a similar mistake again, but I will definitely learn and try to become wiser.  I believe one should yield to most temptations, as my good friend Oscar Wilde suggested when he was alive, in order to gain solid experiences to become a wiser person.  What I meant was, try things out of your comfort zone to gain new experiences.  Or if you really have to, try things against your better judgment to see what happens, just dont whine when you meet the consequences of your actions.  Depends on the situation, avoid being inconsiderate. But for the insolent selfish swine who, without an iota of concern for someone else, continues to hurt people for his/her selfish gain…?  Well, one can only hope he/she will stop someday and become a nice person.

So..where was I…religion..inspiration..Buddhism.  There, no wait, inspiration.  So my inspiration to research Buddhism wasn’t isolated to one event.  I remember hearing about it in snippets from various people throughout my life.  After a series of sad events in my life, which included unfair treatment, I experienced a week of feeling angry and thus found myself talking myself out of my anger so I wouldn’t have to feel so negative because what’s worse than feeling angry.

For me, I didn’t blame anyone for feeling this way or sought an extraterrestrial outlet to explain why things happened.  Things happened because life was lived.. It’s how I wanted to deal with my discomfort was the issue.  I needed to understand that there is justice in life and that being angry only adds salt to wound.  The best thing I can do is.. not be angry.  However, some anger is easier to extinguish than others.  Death for instance, can bring about a torrent of negative emotions that only time and patience can heal. But there’s petty anger, which happen more frequently and is way more fleeting.

Because there are many things that are out of my control, my job is to focus on the things I do have control of, try my best, and know that I tried my best, which ultimately ends in happiness. 8) That was the impetus for me to download the Buddhism “cliff notes” application on my iphone.

I had always heard Buddhism was, for the most part, not a religion in the traditional sense, rather, a way of life.  For the most devout Christians, Buddhism isn’t a satanic go-straight-to-hell-if-you-explore thing.  According to my cliff notes application of Buddhism–it’s a way of life.  Ideals that coincide with my beliefs, which in my opinion, can be summarized in one sentence: try your best.  I mean, really try your best.  Do things because it’s the right thing to do, not because you’re afraid someone will judge you otherwise.  Found out some interesting facts too.. like Henry Ford converted to Buddhism, along with Steve Jobs for reasons explained in the application (Jobs isn’t in the application).  But those aren’t the only reasons to explore Buddhism. Do it because you’re curious to learn more about the multi-faceted things in life.

I have to know that all this knowledge and these experiences accumulated during my life doesn’t simply dissipate into thin air when I go DOINK.  What a waste of time that would be!  I have to know that these things carry into another existence where I can build upon everything I’ve ever learned and apply these lessons to more life.  I have to believe that we’re not all fighting an uphill battle against Time just to die then eat peaches in Heaven for all eternity.  Then again, a Heaven with all your loved ones and all the yummy food you can eat and all the entertainment you could ask for is a great alternative too.

Anyway, the last thing I need is to subscribe to a set of strict codes that will send me to hell if I waver.  That’s not life, and I don’t think anyone or thing intended one to live that way.  I’m also not looking for something to justify my actions.  If anything, any deity or whatever, would first and foremost want a person to be accountable for his or her own actions.  If you slapped someone, you slapped someone.  Not because there’s a greater purpose for it, or because they deserved it.  You own your action and it’s up to you if you feel bad or not.  If someone dissed my mama, I’d slap her too. But, if someone undeservedly received the sting from the back of my hand, I need to own it and apologize profusely and be prepared to never have that person as a friend ever again.

Shoot, so I lost my point.  Anyway, I’m glad I can blog about my interest of Buddhism rather than be shut down during the first 5 seconds of the conversation.  I’m interested in all faiths quite honestly.  But I’m more interested in learning about you and me and why we do the things we do.

Happy New Year

Realized I can’t use my new stock pot to cook my secret weapon because my pot is aluminum.

Learned how to sharpen my knives.

Sharpened knives.

Played a little poker.

Went to Brian’s Shaved Ice.

Went to Best Buy for video games and headphones.

Picked up my brother from the airport.

Looked for Book 4 of Akira and still can’t find it.  Can’t believe I can’t download it on my iPad.

-I’m whipped by my boyfriend.
-I must really like my boyfriend because I don’t drink anymore
-Im naive for hanging out with the wrong people.. Guilty by association.

Which is odd, because I thought that I:
- simply grew tired of 8 months of debauchery (a few months before I had met my boyfriend)
- thoroughly love drinking wine every now and then with good food and maybe a bit of poker, especially with my partner in crime at my side
- am old enough to befriend anyone who’s kind to me, and conversely, de-friend anyone who’s not.

It’s a wonder what a few bad apples can spread about you behind your back when you’re not looking.

That said, my life is beautiful, because everything is simple. I am surrounded by the kindest people, have time to read many books, and have easy access to the yummiest foods. Everything else, is useless noise.

But I have to admit, a good whipping or two is good for me sometimes.

I’m almost finished with my secret project. And by almost, I mean i could be more productive.

I’ve been working on a website that I’m really happy with.  Spent a very long time figuring out DIV language to do the most basic things.  I’m currently  trying to figure out how to create a favicon by  directing the website to an image of the icon.  I’m not sure if that’s possible, but that will be easier for me vs. changing the themes files.  Anyway, this is what my website is about:

What this website is:

• This website is for you to find the restaurant that I think has the best ____ . This is food that I think is the very best in the respective cities. There’s a lot of good food out there, but few oh-my-god, I-must-have-NOW foods–this website is comprised of these. The best foods, until I have better.
  
• I’m often asked for food recommendations, so instead of re-writing a list of restaurants & attaching pictures to e-mails every time someone asks, I thought I’d make it easier on everyone.
• If you share my palate, then you’ll like everything I recommend.
• I think it makes more sense to categorize food recommendations by the food type you’re craving. Are you feeling noodlely?
• This is an ever organically growing site. I’ll notify updates via twitter.

I bought glass tupperware to store his food in the freezer as its more sanitary than porous plastic ones.  I’m a germaphobe, so I’m uber careful with raw food and cleaning everything it touches thoroughly.  I feed the boy outside and monitor his consumption, to make sure he chews before swallows.  The only downside to feeding outside are the wasps that are attracted to his raw meat.  Therefore, I feed him at dawn, so they don’t annoy or bite my dog.  Afterward, I wash down the patio, which sometimes resembles a graveyard with bits of bone scattered everywhere.  At dusk, I feed him a raw meaty bone to avoid wasps as well and this reduces his need to bury the bone since he’s really hungry by this time.  Never cook the bone, because it may splinter and severely injure your dog.  Feed only raw. I monitor my dog when he eats the bone so he doesn’t choke and he’s done a good job thus far.  Dogs will try to eat so many random things–shoelaces, boxes, toys, etc., so don’t be scared of raw bones (be sensible and don’t give him toothpick thin bone fragments).

In a nutshell, dogs are meant to eat raw food.  Even the best dry dog foods have fillers, so dogs don’t obtain enough nutrients.  Dogs aren’t susceptible to the same diseases we humans are from raw foods.  Their stomachs are built to manage the bacteria that would normally put humans at risk of e coli, etc. Before this raw food diet, my dog’s poop was always an 8-inch in diameter slushy mess.  Now he poops 3 little 2-inch clumps of hard turds.  He no longer has gooey eyes, yeast in his ears is nearly eliminated (plain yogurt), coat is almost puppy soft, and I don’t take him to the vet every 3 weeks.  Not to mention, his breath doesn’t stink anymore and his teeth are white & clean (w/out frequent brushing–raw bones and food).   Amazing, huh? I noticed the results a week after switching his diet.

You think it’s time consuming, but it only takes about 3 hours (including driving to the grocery store and preparation) from start-to-finish.  I can make 30-days worth of food and store the tupperware in the freezer (you might have to purchase an extra freezer if you have a 110 lb dog).  Freezing the mixture does kill some of the nutrients, but hardly enough to make a difference to compromise his nutritional needs.  Freezing the food help kills the bacteria as well.

Above is all general, so before embarking on a raw food diet for your dog, do your research so you don’t make him sick.  It’s not as scary as it sounds, seeing that dogs were born to eat raw meat, unless their ancestors knew how to roast a pig.

Raw eggs in the blender including the shell (without the shell, dogs don’t absorb the egg’s nutritional value)

Romaine Lettuce

Carrots

Cabbage

Egg/yogurt mixture

Veggie/Egg/Yogurt glop

Whole duck I feed him occasionaly

Lamb Liver (forgot to ask the butcher to cut for me, so I had to. Kinda gross at first).

Lamb Heart

Lamb Heart quartered

Lamb heart weighed

Final product

Raw Meaty Bones- Lamb Shank

Freezer

Raw Pizza

Fresh coconut ice-cream + caramelized coconut brown sugar

Wild jack Fruit

kopi luwak:  poop coffee.  From wikipedia: It is made from the beans of coffee berries which have been eaten by the Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) and other related civets, then passed through its digestive tract.^[1] A civet eats the berries for their fleshy pulp. In its stomach, proteolytic enzymes seep into the beans, making shorter peptides and more free amino acids. Passing through a civet’s intestines the beans are then defecated, keeping their shape. After gathering, thorough washing, sun drying, light roasting and brewing, these beans yield an aromatic coffee with much less bitterness

Pork on grill

Pork on platter

Spicy soup at the same pork restaurant

Pork in soup

Tonchin- the best pork ramen in Tokyo until I have better

Pork ramen @ Tonchin

Dessert at Westin

I made a crane/pterodactyl and then it landed on my tea cup

Was given a yukata for the wonderfest 2011 and thus expressed my gratitude

Yuzu ramen

Wagyu

Shabu Shabu style (“swish swish” wagyu in broth)

Wagyu for sukiyai

A bit of heaven in the form of wagyu and japanese veggies + eggs

Dip the meat in the egg, then eat

The shabushabu peeps

Greedy monster

Tastiest salad dressing at Jojoen

Beef tongue at Jojoen

Wagyu at Jojoen

Cooked wagyu @ jojoen

Cold noodles @ Jojoen

Almond dessert at Jojoen

Pyramid-shaped watermelon.  Oh, those Japanese people.  They make everything cooler.

Dinosaur watermelon egg

Restaurant at the Roppongi Mall.  Entire meal here customized. Hosted by our friend, O. Corn cube.

Restaurant at the Roppongi Mall.  Pea katsu

Restaurant at the Roppongi Mall.  Curry Udon

A5 Wagyu Beef Bowl.  Our friend new we loved Yoshinoya, so he asked the Chef to make us a special version.  Thus, the Chef took his team to Yoshinoya for R&D and returned with something better.

Real green tea shaved ice, red bean, and mochi boobies.

Chocolate Naan at the indian restaurant next to Goodsmile Cafe

Cheese naan.  The Japanese make everything better.

Friend’s Chinese restaurant

Almond dofu dessert

Our friend flew us one hour, and drove another 30 minutes to share his favorite ramen restaurant in Takamatsu. homemade tofu

Our friend flew us one hour, and drove another 30 minutes to share his favorite ramen restaurant in Takamatsu. homemade tofu

after

$3 udon breakfast in takamatsu

Kimchi Ramen

Apple pie dessert with a lump of raspberry sorbet

not-so-tasty xiao long baos in roppongi

Monjayaki

Spicy ramen

Friend’s new toy.  Electric bike seat thingy

spicy ramen with dipping sauce

Tonchin..again.

octopus legs

sake, a lot of sake that night

salad with roasted garlic

scallops

a5

po’chop

spinach

sushi

tempura

udon shabu-shabu

In goes the broth

Noodles n then some

voila!

udon, shabu-shabu style

Almost forgot. We were given an option to cook the shrimp live in the boiling broth, so we opted in.

Even the manhole covers are better in Japan

A friend said he’d take us to get shaved ice… I didn’t know he meant legitimate, real-green tea and red bean topped with vanilla ice-cream shaved ice

The best udon in Tokyo at Zen (mushroom dipping broth)

Fresh udon

Pork udon at Zen

Our friends turned us into cartoons.

I took a regular blood test when I returned from Tokyo and thus discovered all my lipids are high, especially triglycerides.  Consequently, I’m on a mission to eat like a normal person.. maybe a normal European person vs. American since the diets are drastically different on the average.

I love Tokyo.  If I weren’t living here, I’d live in Tokyo.