IT'S ALIVE!!! ALIVE!!1

Note "skin" color and awesomeness. Also this is stuffed but the stuffing blends in with the roast. You'll see carrots in a kinda circle/oval. That's the stuffing.

This is what I made for T-Day. Big hit with Vegans and Omni's a like. This is coming late in the game so the roast is a dayish old but still looks good if not a bit eaten down. This thing was hhhuugggeee compared to other ones I made and the super market tofurkeys. I adapted a few recipes to get this one but mainly the Vegan Dad one. Different flavor and size but same basic idea. I was also watching Alejandro Jodorowsky's "Santa Sangre" while making this.......I feel it made a difference.....check it:

Seitan
Get your water on its way to boiling in your steamer
- 2 cup vital wheat gluten
- 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp poultry spice
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- Few pinches of rosemary
- 2 tbsp course black pepper
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup soy milk
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp mesquite liquid smoke
- 2 tbsp Braggs
- 1/4 cup TVP

Rectangular Cake Pan
Roasting Bag


Stuffing
1 small Carrot
1/2 a large yellowOnion
1 rib Celery
Garlic
Balsamic Vinegar
Flour

Stuffing method
You can make whatever you like but I find this flavors the roast from the inside out. The baste then flavors from the outside in and BAM! Finely chop the carrots, celery, garlic and onion. Pop all of it into a large bowl and mix it up. Add some balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with flour. Continue to add flour till the mixture holds together. This will make more than you need for the roast but the rest will be put into the bag with the roast

Roast METHOD
1. Whisk together dry ingredients in a bowl. Whisk together wet ingredients in a separate bowl and add to dry. Mix with a wooden spoon into a wet dough. If it seems too wet, add a bit more gluten flour. It should be soft and pliable, but still hold together. I find adding extra gluten necessary with this recipe as EXACT measuring is for kings and queens. Add as much or as little seasonings and liquids as you would like then make up the difference with extra gluten. The more gluten you add the more roast you have sooo... bring on the gluten.
2. Transfer dough to a piece of extra wide, extra strength aluminum foil (it is important to have this), and with your hands, flatten into a rectangle, about 1/2" thick. The width will depend on how wide your steamer is. Make sure it will fit. And believe me with this recipe it'll be a TIGHT fit.
3. Put stuffing in a line the center of the dough. Compress the stuffing in your hands so the center of the roast will be firm. Gently but firmly roll the seitan with the stuffing in the middle (i.e. make sure there is a cavity in the middle with the stuffing in it--don't roll it like a jelly roll). Seal the ends and seam as best you can.
4. Tightly roll up like a Tootsie Roll. You make need to add an extra piece of foil going the opposite way of your first foil to get a tight tootsie roll goin on.
5. Steam for 40 mins, turning over after 20 mins. I find that I need to put a heavy book on top of the lid to keep the roast from lifting the lid off of my steamer. Maybe your's is deeper than mine. America's Test Kitchen cookbook works well. It can be a real balancing act trying to get it to stay and not fall off. I usually put one of the book on the handle and the other is supported with a thermos or something that is just the right height to keep it from falling. I also find that this makes the roast a little more dense and less spongy....which I like. While steaming, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
6. Just before roast is ready to be taken out of steamer and put in toaster oven prepare your vegetables to be roasted with the roast. All of this (the roast ultimately and the veggies) will be roasted in a roasting bag which sits in a rectangular cake pan (I think thats what you'd call it). This allows for maximum veggies to surround and flavor your roast. Slit as many carrots as you'd like length-wise (and then maybe in half if they will fit better in the baking pan), quarter an onion or two and as many red or small potatoes as you'd like. Also break up a few ribs of celery in half or so. Add some halved cloves of garlic (I recommend A LOT!). Finally add whatever stuffing you had left over. It'll make it taste pretty good. Once all of that is in the bag add some balsamic vinegar and some balsamic vinaigrette. Twist the bag closed (DON'T SEAL it yet) and pop it in the oven while the roast is finishing steaming/baking. Watch the bag as it will expand. Maybe put a slit or two in the bag now. I like to wait till the roast is in to preserve the moisture......but whatever.
7. After steaming place roast in toaster oven at 350 and bake for 10-15 mins.
8. Once baked unwrap roast and place in baking bag with carrots, celery, onions, and garlic. You'll have to carve a little place for it among the veggies. Baste liberally with braggs, balsamic vinegar and vinaigrette (lite) and asian ginger sesame dressings (lite). Pop a dash or two (or more) of mesquite liquid smoke on it. Sprinkle some rosemary, poultry seasoning and course black pepper, and crushed red pepper on top. Seal the bag (slit bag once or twice) and bake for 30 mins.........or so. I find that since the bag is there a lot of the moisture stays in and flavors the roast. You could let it go for 30 then leave it in the oven till everyone is ready to eat.....heck an hour or two in the oven I think kind helps it as it cools. Either way you should let the roast stand for a good 20 minutes to soak up the sun before cutting this pup up. Serve with or without gravy....you do what you want!


Creamy Country Gravy:
Yields about 4-1/2 cups
½ cup wheat flour
½ cups nutritional yeast
1 1/2 Tbsp. Canola or soy oil
2 cups soymilk and 2 cups stock
1 Tbsp. Soy sauce
3 tsp. poultry seasoning
2 tsp. onion powder
½ tsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. freshly ground black pepper
Corn Starch as needed

Prepare stock. I like to use the powdered faux chicken stock. It's about a tbsp per cup. I add 2 tbsp stock powder (plus a little more for good luck) to two cups water and begin to heat. While heating I chop up half a large yellow onion and add to the mix. I also add a sprinkle of granulated garlic (chopped fresh garlic or powder will due as well). Sometimes I like it spicy so I add a course chopped jalapeno. Season how you'd like.

Heat the flour and nutritional yeast in the oil until it starts to brown. Whisk in the soymilk an stock, leaving no lumps. Whisk in the soy sauce, poultry seasoning, onion powder and black pepper. Heat until it thickens and just starts to boil. Add corn starch to thicken as you desire.

These Days

Spending the first t-day away from the family. I miss the pie. I miss them too but...I am happy to be away. I like being away. Out of sight. Able to not have to deal with things. We'll see. I hope to be in the mountains soon.

enjoy the little things

Production time is almost upon us. Lots to do and so little time. Filming begins in a week and a half. I''m excited. This is going to be really cool. I've also begun a number of beginnings. We'll see.

Life is good

Finally letting go and letting out. Some rocky new beginnings. And a 12 mile bike ride. That is what made today good. Also the thought of the future, both near and distant. And finally being okay with the way things worked out. It's good. I'm good. Ohhhhh!!! And being told you're good at something......yeah!!!! Thats great.

Patience is a curse

I bought two vesrions of an album yesterday. I mainly bought them because I was looking for one song. I wasn't expecting it to be on the first version. I then saw the track listing for the second, so late into the night I rushed out to get it. Upon purchasing said album I found it to contain a lot of good songs, but not the one I wanted. Apparently amazon and best buy had the wrong track listings up......I was upset. However, in a totally unrelated event Amazon gave me a $5 mp3 credit. Had I waited through the night and not run out and impulsively bought the other album I could have gotten all the songs I wanted.....for free. I was so certain that it was imperative I hear that one song last night that I feared the store would be closed when I got there. I also got a little lost along the way. I had almost accepted defeat when I saw a glimmer of what I hoped was the store. It was. Out came the credit card after a moment of hesitation and double checking the track listing. I bought it, but it wasn't what I was looking for. The simpler solution, one with out as much fury and doubt was just one morning away. If only I had waited. I'm a little lighter in the wallet, but tonight I buy the song.

kicking and screaming and on your knees quiet this mind

Today brought some clarity. some reality. some realism. I have a long way to go to patch that which I have torn apart. And trying to find the right song, the right album to fix this problem isn't so easy. I have no idea what to say. So I just called. And hoped the words would come. No answer. hear the silence. Now it's me.

Ghosts

I saw Invention of Lying last night. Ricky still has the touch. It made me think of (one of) my old Office watchin' buddies. A lot. My dreams were filled with the past. Many different pasts. One past in particular has been on my mind a lot lately. I have created a situation for the past few months and I am not sure how to proceed. I know what I should do is just go, run, maybe stumble, but move. However it is just so much easier to just let things be, figure it out tomorrow. I've been living a relatively spontaneous life as of late. I should just suck up my pride, set it aside, and let it ride. If I do nothing it falls apart, it may already have fallen. Only one way to find out.

"I always knew you were gonna miss me babe. but now I am willing to admit I miss you too"

Cool and Sunny

I like it when it is cool and sunny. tomorrow i ride again!!!!!

PILLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSsssssssssssss

I have finaly figured it out. Austin is a drug. A drug that I like. I love. I fucking love doing this shit. So many movies, music, food, swimming, girls, sun. I;m addicted to this shit. I just keep doing it. The problem is that it has taken over my life. This is all I want to do. I don't want to work, eat, or sleep. Just do it , use it, feel it. I have felt so many times that I would be crazy to leave this place. But it'll kill me one day. I know it will....


toadies



ag.


UPDATE: Seriously I am addicted......I am fuck up a little more before going clean, right?? I can quit when I want.....right.....fuck it.....i'm using.

if it's bright enough you don't see the clouds on the horizon

i have decided, and have been saying, they I am just generally and probably doom unhappy person. No matter where I am or what i am doing I find a way to be unhappy, discontent. I think, dream, and plan about so many things. And this next thing is surely to make me happier. it does, for a while. but it seems too short lived. when I am busy busy I dream of rest, of sleep. when I am lying still, almost asleep, or sleeping in I wish I was busier, I feel lazy. hot and cold.

i'm just an unhappy person......it ain't so bad

time, some how some way

I just bearly escaped going to jail over the last 24 hours. Well maybe not jail. But a ticket, or a spanking. Running red lights in small town Texas, not a good idea when the local tin is sitting on the other side of said light looking at you. Also a risky proposition upon realizing your mistake AND seeing said cop turn around lights ablaze you slyly slink down a back street. And you continue to take back streets till you know you have lost him the high tail it out of town.

Also risky is standing on the side of the highway with a camera (which to some MUST look like a bazooka) pointing it at cars as they go by. People tend to call the law because the TERRORISTS MUST HAVE MADE IT TO TEXAS!!!!!!!! For the record 3 seperate cops over two days stopped and asked me for my ID. Ran my ID and scolded me. Sheesh. ALSO apparently a guy with a BIG ass camera HAS to be from some competing gas station, or one of thier hires, and said cameraman must be taking spy footage with this big camera. After all whimpy hidden spycams for that sort of thing are so passe.

Anyways, I made it out alive. I also realized that it is either Texas or me but driving 5 hours to get somewhere doesn't seem like that big of a deal.

I'm tired. My arms feel really weird. I'm out.

birth-day

I had one of the best birthdays I have had in a long while, or ever, earlier this week. just the right amount of contemplation and party. Also some great unexpected packages.

I FEEL like a rock star now. Away from the mundane. Stars around me. it's cooling down but still hot in the house. Less than 2 months and we start filming T82. NEW house, much bigger rooom. Really nice house. I like it.

I wanna spiral for a little while.

the sound of silence

it's so quiet. it has been for weeks, months. what is there to say. I took a stand. I made a decision. Is it one that I stand behind, no. Is there is a better way, probably. But I just don;t know. I don;t know what to do anymore. About the way things are, were, happened. I still dream it might work out, those dreams find thier way into my sleep, haunt me. And I wish they were true each time. Maybe if I pretend that night was just another dream I'll feel better. Maybe not.

It;s so quiet

The Image of your destruction

chop off his head

I feel that I have been personally challenged by Robert (rodriguez) to make a better austin movie. I'm gonna do it dude. And it'll BLOW YOUR MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zaaaa

In honor of the pizza movie I made a few years back and in preparation for the one I am making this fall I have decided to be proud of the pizza I made tonight (see previous depressing post). Here is a picture of it:
(whole wheat "beer" crust made by me, diced tomatoes, hatch green chiles (see prev. post), vegan chipotle sausage (sadly not made by me...I know blasphemy...but I will be making some soon), nutritional yeast, roasted red pepper tomatoe sauce, rosemary infused olive oil (from my rosemary) and vegan rella. Yeah I am prety much vegan now.....here is the delicous pic:


ALso there are chickens in my backyard. Video if you want it:

Very Funny

I saw funny people last night. I have also not had much sleep for the past few days, a pattern that has been around for the last 3 weeks. I found that I was sadder when I came out of funny people than when I went in. I may have been sleep deprived, or hopped up on coffee so a little edgey but......... I also made me think girls are the devil. Well I have always known they are. Just even more so.

I am cooking pizza right now. I tried to find a ready made dough. No dice. So I made my own. I also found Hatch Green Chiles at Whole Foods. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatch,_New_Mexico ) I had never heard of them before moving here.... They are good. I am going to make a sauce out of them as they were "on sale" (and rare because you can only get them when they are in season and limited supply) so I bought a couple pounds.

I feel better. I want to sleep though. PIZZA first.

iN BeTWeEEN

I feel like I am in between something. I also feel nervous. I'm not sure how long I am going to be here but I want to be in control. Not the other way around. Riding my bike at night has a whole new meaning. the world will still be around, but I want it to fall apart without me.

moving pictures and doing something in life

My thoughts lately have been about my new project and what lies ahead. What I foresee in the future, namely adventure. Possibly my demise. But hey, there are worst ways to go. Just trying to look at all possibilities with the challenges I am laying out. HOPEFULLY won't end in that.......hopefully. But in the end I only have so many young years, and I have an opportunity before me. I'm taking it.

gggrrrrrrrr

Getting out of routine is not my thing.......................

oooooopppppssss

Sometimes I do things that I want to do but don't have the balls. I then (hour/sleep later) partially regret my decision. It's a turbulent situation.








PS I still think about it

adventure

I have decided to dedicate about the next ten years of my life to adventure. Here are the places I will go (in no REAL order, but ordered...kinda but not really):

Mt.Kilimanjaro (summit)
Everest Base Camp
Nepal
Inca Trail
India
South Pole
Washington State
Colorado
Alaska
Big Bend National Park
Oregon
Ilse Royal
Japan
Egypt
South Africa
Thailand
Mexico

There are many others but this is a decent start. If I ever go missing look in one of these places first. Also I have been looking into getting a cabin, well buying one, in Alaska. Ideally I will learn how to build one and do that but we'll see.

hot hot hot

It's weird how much people will put up with to not be in an Ohio winter. I was just thinking about how I miss the look and season of the winter a little. But I don't miss the pain. I've traded that all in for 105 degrees. It's actually not that bad though. However I do feel a little like I am in a South Park episode (the one about the airline business) where I have traded the pain of winter for always always always sweating....and a lot of sweat. But I like I. its a little uncomfortable, but it's better than being stuck inside.....still......I dream of winter....and fall.....and I think I'll be back


Also I have been thinking a lot about deserts, chocolate, cakes, brownies, cookies, and the like. fat fat fat.

visions

I'm still going to post pictures, I promise.........

Turn Ahead?

I moved to Austin for a number of reasons. To get out of Ohio, for a change, for my own mental health, and to make a movie (among other things). I've gotten out of Ohio, I feel MUCH healthier (physically and mentally) and now we may actually be making a movie. And a movie I am excited about. An Austin movie. It's been so long since we've really made something and for us. Something really cool and not half assed.

There are also some other possible turns ahead. Turns that will hopefully allow me to travel more. To enjoy life. I've been thinking about Ohio's Fall and Winter. I'm happy I won't really be around for it, but I miss it, at least the idea of it, a little. We'll see.

Tanner, tireder, and tense

Vacation was good, amazing, insightful. Upon coming back to Austin all of us Austin kids kinda wondered why we still love on the door stop to hell. Hasnt gotten below 100 during the day in more than a week and below 85 at night. The last few days it's been in the 90's through the night. I'm tired. I've been working all week. I know poor me. I guess I should say I haven't had a chnace to catch up on my sleep I lost at the beach and on the 24+ hour rides to and from there. But last night I felt once again like Austin is the place I want to be right now. Hot as it may be I'm happy here. It's been one long vacation. And I like that. It'll come to an abrupt end I am sure. But for now, I'm happy.

Also my house is being sold so I will definatly need to find a place to live come Jan. Here or somewhere else. WHo knows. Living anywhere for longer than a year never suited me anyways.

Maybe I'll live in a cabin for a while. That would be amazing.

Yeah.........................

Catch a boat to England

Austin is starting to feel like home. Thoughts of moving back to Ohio still cross my mind though. But I am starting to feel like I like this. I know things might have to evolve soon. But for now I like this. I know I just got here but I started thinking about the next place I want to live. I am not sure where that would be. I know the north west has always interested me. Portland. But for now Austin is great. I think I'll go ride my bike before work. Let all my worries slip away. Besides, I'll be beach bound in a week. It seems weird. Going on vacation when I feel like I already have been on vacation for more than 3 months now. How time flies. And how hot it is now. Bike, garden dry off, moto to work.......camping this weekend.

Good, Bad, and the Ugly

Sitting here watching Die Hard, int he background, and there has been a lot of death lately. I hate even writing that because it sounded lame even when I wrote it. Anyways, rain, Cavs, birds, hope in many ways. Still there is the occasional glimmer of redemption. After leaving Luke's both because I wanted to get away from the mess and get to the Tuesday movie I found aforementioned movie SOLD OUT. In a cloud of "well of course it is" I began to walk 6th street like a common street rat. Found a bar playing the game and watched from outside. Punched a wall. Walked back to the Ritz and made SURE they were sold out. I mean come on I am at EVERY tuesday movie. They were. I walked out. As I approached my bike so did some annonymous do gooder. He was supposed to meet a friend, no dice, so he sold me his ticket. rejoice. It was a pretty good movie and just what I needed.

ALL of this began a week ago when I found my car tire flat flat flat. I pumped it up and it is still holding air. DAMN kids. Then on the way to work I hit a bird. I hope it is ok. Or it was quick. I was also supposed to have a guest this weekend. But fate thought differently. That probably worked out for the best though. I've been working too much. I need a vacation from this vacation.

tonight, tonight

It's days like this that make me VERY happy to live in Austin. 12+mile bike ride, 12 mile hike, lots of sunshine and scenery, beautiful clear sky and lots of stars, a free late night swim at one of the best springs in Texas....or the world. Then a brisk ride home in wet shorts...but I don't mind cuz it's 80 degrees still........it's a pretty good life.

I guess I feel a sense of freedom here. It's probably too much freedom. But I'm digging it. Anything that allows me to be outside as much as I have been, see what I have seen, and do what I do has to be at least a little alright. Life isn't perfect here, but life isn't perfect only varying degrees of suck.

shit...rain

seriously?!?!?! i mean seriously. Could this shit have any better timing. is it all in my head.......probably. it's just funny when 10 things hit you at once and they all suck. still it could be much worst, much much worst.

summer summer summer time

summer time is quickly approaching austin. averaging 80's with some 90's spikes. I may go swimming tomorrow...or soon. took pictures of my garden. post soon. lsdfjlksdjflsdkj

A decision

After a long love hate relationship with veggie seafood (for those of you not in the know there is a wealth of fake seafood out there just for vegetarians...and vegans......they usually incorporate some form a seaweed to give it that fishy taste....but I digress) I have come to a decision. A few years ago I discovered a really good vegetarian restaurant in Boston called Buddha's delight. It served really good veggie shrimp (among other things) at the time my veggie friend was a little weirded out by it. I found it novel. A few years pass and I am introduced to a vast array of Asian grocery stores in NE Ohio. They have everything from veggie shrimp, lobster, crab, fih fillet, etc etc. While the breaded füsh or feesh stix were pretty good the rest varied greatly in quality. My quest to find those good boston veggie shrimp has begun. Along the way I fell to many a trap. Namely some stomach churning V-lobster that I had for new years......man oh man....I get queesy just thinking about it. Also some how I had aquired some v-squid.....never tried it. I also bought a fish fillet I never ate (and these things AREN'T cheap, honestly sometimes it seems it would be cheaper to buy really sea food which itself is not cheap.)

ANYWAY, now the Austin connection. There is a restraunt here called Veggie Heaven. They are very similar to Buddah's Delight. They have v-shrimp. I tried them....I found a match.......then I realized I don't like them anymore........

So sometimes you find what you are looking for but it's never quite the way you rememeber it when you find it. I guess in the end my friend was right. They do creep me out.

Nothings on

A little more productive. the new projects are starting to come together. Waiting for the puppets, yeah I said puppets, hope they will be here soon. Planning some test shooting this week, got the test shots from one of our 16mm cameras back, projector is broken, looking for a new one, umm......freelance weds, PIGS on tues, I like writing in fragments, and shazaaaammm

How does your garden grow

So I hav been a little more productive the last few weeks than I have been the previous weeks......got some freelance work, have a part time job now, planted a garden, have gone on a bunch of bike rides, umm.....should probably be more busy. working that part out now.

Many promises were made and I will give you a tour of my austin life, the trip down here, my garden (which deserves special mention) and other such things. Wish my life was more interesting......

Bored? Quit your job and mve to Austin

I'm nt quite sure how it happened but I now find myself two weeks into my journey. How did two weeks already go by? I'm actually happy it wasn't more because it feels like it has been. The first week was a wash because I had friends in town and I was tying to settle in. Last week washed out with getting my car and motorcycle registered and honestly just enjoying a little freedom. But freedom comes at a cost so before I totally run out of money I am hitting the war path.

The last few days have been pretty cool. Lots of bike rides and hikes. And deep thought. Starting to work on a few movies/TV projects which is really why I am down here. That and the tacos. We're all getting into it and I think once I find a job to pay the bills that doesn't dominate my life I'll be in pretty good shape.

It's weird how things are starting to feel normal now. This place is starting to feel familiar, smaller...........I need a job.

With any luck there will be a video tour of Austin soon. I started working on it then thought " I really should work on my demo reel first" so we'll get that out of the way and go from there.

What it's like to stay up for two days

SO I am in Austin now. took me 23 hours and 50 minutes of driving to get here. And I did it all in one shot. I got to Nashville and felt sleepy but couldn't find a place to pull over. Then I got to Memphis and felt pretty good. Then Little Rock then the Texas border. Once I hit Texas sunrise was a few hours away and Austin was 8. So I decided just to keep going. So I am here. And it's pretty cool. Already lot of hanging out and movies. And figuring things out. It was weird. On the way down there thoughts about the return trip home kept popping in my head. Like "Oh that wold be neat to stop on the way back" or whatever. And then I would catch myself. There is no going back. Well there is going back. But it won't be home REALLY anymore.

This is going to be good. And I can already see that my life down here is going to be different. Good or bad, it'll be different.


Riding the Elevator.

I wonder how many people don't live where they grew up?

The time is drawing near. I can tell because I am getting more edgy, cranky, and irritable.....oh and a little nervous. Who knows what could go wrong just trying to get there......we'll see.

Two headed Dog

I finally realized.,.......saak.asdas..,./;'[']\lksvslkc..yyyyyy uurrr ttttooouuucccchhhh

i just keep thinking about all the people who are going to miss me. it always surprises me the amount of people who are fond of me and are sad to see me go. BUT i can't die not knowing what else is out there. I'm scared, and I'm afraid this all is going to fail. but I have to do it. I WAS thinking about how I came to this desiciion, I had been thining about it for a while but never acted on it. then.....it happened,,,, and I realized I have to, I can't over think it. I can't just sit here. I have to do it. I have to have adventure. I need out of here even if it proves my doom,
I am leavig a lot. including some really cool friends and a job that JUST KEEP FUCKING GIVING!!! fuck it. I'm fucking this all up. i'm out of here.


no one made anything of themselves from akron by staying here....no one......and a lot of people are from akron......fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck,,,,,,,,,fuck you for missing me!

IKFHSLKHSDK

THIS BLOG SUCKS AND I KNOW IT

Some may come and some may go

I don't think I have been as excited to leave a place and as sad to see it go as I am now. NE Ohio is a different sort of place. with pockets of success. But never thriving. there is a lot i am unsure of right now. but i know that as much as I am sad to see this place fade way, i'm so excited to get he hell out of here.

i saw the wrestler tonight ( another reason to get out of here, this movie came out weeks ago in austin, and just tonight in the cleve). i think it was a really good movie to see while in this state of mind.......

jumping into the ring might kill me. but it's where I belong.

Under a million feet of snow

It's snowing quite heavily. I will miss this. Adventure.

I didn't realize

The Fear

My biggest fear is that I will leave and something will happen to my mom, my dad, my sisters, my family and I won't be here.......I spent all today with my dad at the hospital. He has some sort of vascular rupture in his abdomen. He should be ok. He's superman right? Crazy guy popped a vein doing his 100 crunches. He kept trying to tell the nurses this was probably the cuase but they didn't believe him. I wouldn't either especially because he was telling them his also did 50 pull ups and 100 push ups. Then I came in and they said "You're dad is quite a man, says he can do 100 crunches..." my reply "..He can, yeah, that's probably what caused it..." (BLANK STARE)........"Seriously, he can" (WIDE EYES)............."Well......hmm....yeah I guess that would do it."

It was one of the proudest moments (who has a dad that at 75 can kick anyone's ass) and scariest (he's not invincible no matter how much he trains).

Waking Up as the Sun Greets the Dawn

I'm not comin' home

I've just returned from my 7 day exploration of my new home Austin. I was scared (and sick but that's unrelated) when I arrived in Austin New Years day. I wanted my first day, my first time, in Austin to be new years day.

My immediate arrival provided the first of MANY surprises. $50 off my car rental because I had to wait 10 minutes. Little did I know it an illness that would follow me through the entire week was brewing.

As I headed towards the city I noticed a a guy biking on what I assume was the highway.....this is Austin. Nothing but bunch of bike riders, hipsters, and college kids. Sometimes a good thing sometimes a bad thing.

The week was filled with tacos, movies, and sun. Not too unlike how I spend most of my days in Ohio. It also presented me with my first flat bike tire. Very flat. And a subsequent 3 mile walk as the sun began to creep behind the hills.

I was slightly to painfully sick most if not...well ALL the time I was there. I'm just now kinda getting over it though I think i might be getting pink eye. Either way it made the experience interesting and if I can have a good time when I'm that sick, it's got to be pretty cool.

I could try to go through all the cool things i did (Escape from NY and Howling II (with personal appearance by Sybal Danning). Tell you about all the cool taco places I found (soy chorizo everywhere, and a taco every morning-one of which was 3/4 lbs.) And some of the weirdos (bum dancing his heart out for a good 4 minutes, and a really GOOD dancer at that, I'm not big on giving out money to bums but this dude would have gotten a fiver, and a $5ver). But I am sure a lot of this stuff is going to come as I begin living life in my new city.

I should mention that I am going to miss.....a lot of people. And I know I'll be missed. I'm sorry I am leaving. You're all really important to me. It's weird. I really wish I could have it all. But something has to give. And for so many reasons I'm just not happy where I am. Will this solve everything? Probably not. WIll I most likely be a lot poorer...probably. But I'm hoping at least I'm happier.

SO it begins. I hope to see a lot of you come check this place out. Also Steve Jobs did invent iChat sooo.......Come down sometime and I'll challenge you to Mortal Kombat II. Or discuss life under the night sky at any one of a 100 sweet bars....kinda. Ok the city sucks, but so does the cold, cuz it's a cold night for alligators.


Two headed dog