A free spirit and A clear mind….

Endless Blue by www.Digitalblasphemy.com

~~~2nd chances.~~~

Luck isn’t something you can find. It’s definitely not something that you can force into your life. Actually, luck really has no place in life at all anyway! It makes as much sense to attribute success to a god and failures to a devil.

Then, what is luck? How do I define a chain of events that seem like I hit a lucky streak?

A place of familiarities. Why did I decide to uproot myself from a place I knew so well? A place that never did me wrong? Well, I moved for the simple satisfaction of exploration and as fulfilling as it was, it made me realize what I had left behind. I guess you could say that I developed a greater appreciation for my old town in Austin, Texas.

And now that I am back, I’m full of positive energy and I get the feeling inside of my heart that makes me feel I’m treading on clouds made of gold.

Yeah, it’s a temporary feeling, but I might as well take advantage of it while the gettin‘ is good.

Ok, so back in Austin and I’m eating healthier, living healthier, loving more, and feeling free. WOW! How did I get this way?? I used to be depressed. I used to be so angry and so pessimistic. My old philosophy was to think negatively about an outcome that way I could never be let down. Bummer!!

Now my new philosophy is that thinking positively will create success.

You know, I wonder… could it be… could it be that this changed attitude is a side effect of being pescetarian??? Nah, no way. However, maybe being pescetarian is a side effect of thinking positively about life. Loving life, in turn, loving my own body and treating it well.

So, back to my question; what is luck? Moreover, what is creating the good things happening in my life? Is it so simple to say that positive thinking breeds success? Maybe it is that simple. How? Positive thinking vitalizes motivation. It releases chemicals in the brain that stimulate the senses and muscles which gets you up into the world and motivated making you feel like, well, a superhero.

But motivation sometimes needs a little help. It needs organization because motivation does you no good if you don’t know what to get motivated about. So, with this flowing river of motivation, I wrote down goals. Short-term goals (to be accomplished in 2 years) and long-term goals (to be accomplished in 5 years).

Now that I have my goals defined, my motivation has a place to go. All I have to do is look at my goals and start tackling them just like a to-do list. Or even a shopping list! I look at the list and the list tells me which ‘isle’ to go down to grab my goal and put it in the bag! It’s a funny analogy but it makes sense and puts the worries of tackling big things, such as goals, at ease.

Long story short; luck is positive thinking. Obviously it’s not a change over night but its a way of convincing the mind and body to get up and get active. Be proactive. Stop worrying and start doing! Remember that old saying?

“A Conscientious Carnivore.” pt. 1: Eat your veggies!

Let’s evaluate the “healthy diet”…

low carb…

low cal…

small food portions…

no dessert…

no taste…

grumbly tummy…

No thanks!

This world has way too much to offer for me to eat chicken breasts and dry salads. What about Lasagna and cheese enchiladas and Ben n Jerry’s ice cream?? hell no I won’t pass that up!

So, here is my method and since its inception back in November of ’09, I have had noticable results. I can share that later, if you’d like, but first, my method to dietary zen…

Rule 1:
Go Veggie! And if you really want to go extreme, go vegan! Not all the time, though!! Sin! Be a sinful vegetarian! Make the food gods weep and eat meat, too!

Meat can be a part of a healthy habit, just learn when its right to eat meat.

You might ask: “When is it right for a vegetarian to eat meat??”
Ok, what I’m really saying is, pick up the veggie habit. Eat vegetarian dishes. Order a portabella steak instead, get a veggie patty on your burger. (mmmm… they sound scary, but they are actually very tasty!) The veggie options are full of flavor and full of feeling good!

Rule 2:
Actually, my best suggestion… and this will satisfy your craving for meats, plus make it easier to order off the restaurant menu… go pescatarian.

“What’s a pescatarian?”
Pescatarians have a vegetarian diet that includes fish and shellfish but excludes mammals and birds.

Now your new diet opens up to include fish tacos, sushi, and a yummy fillet o’ fish.

Rule 3:
Cut the cheese… seriously! No cheddar, no swiss, definitely no American. Cut out all fatty cheeses. You will notice a substantial change in your body and health within the month. This doesn’t have to be a permanent thing but do try it for a month and see how you do.

Extreme alternative:
If you can stand it, 86 all dairy for a month! Milk, ice cream, yogurt, cheese, cream sauces, anything cream. Don’t do it… for a month!

Then, after the month, ween yourself back into dairy by using fat-free milk or soy milk. Use italian dressing as a condiment instead of mayo or miracle whip (ew!). Use goat cheese. Aged cheeses. And many cheeses come in a low-fat form.
Once you have completed a month of the no cheese program, don’t destroy your success by eating tons of cheese again. Build a controlled relationship with cheese. Include it only some of the time. When you cook or when you order prepared foods, ask for no cheese. This technique will keep cheese in your diet and the fat out of your arteries!!

Rule 4:
We can explore organics and farm-raised together later but what I want you to know now is that eating mammals and birds is ok… just KNOW WHERE THEY CAME FROM!
It may cost you more to buy farm-raised meat, but keep this in mind; supply and demand changes everything. In time, the prices will go down, as they already have. Then again, if you’re following this diet anyway, you should be saving some money.
The concern here shouldn’t be your bank account. If you have to, sacrifice somewhere. The concern you should have is what you are putting into your body!
Hormones, animal antibiotics. Unhealthy living conditions. The various parasitic outbreaks should give you an indication on just how disgusting the meat is for you.

Go ahead! Try this plan out for a month. Make note of your favorite dishes and make note of how you are doing. Writing down your progress can serve as encouragement. If you slip up, no big deal! This plan is to guide you! Not make you into a veggie control freak! Look for restaurants that serve up quick lunch dishes and see if they have a veggie option. Search for vegetarian recipes online or through other veggie friends… or I would love to share a few of my own that are freakin’ delicious.

When you go out to eat, simply ask where the meat comes from. If you can’t get adequate info, then order the fish or a vegetarian substitute. Veggie items are always cheaper anyway!

This is NOT you being snotty. This is your life. Not everyone will get it and you can’t force them, but through your actions you can set an example for others! And that’s our goal, right?

After a month, you will notice a change in mood, in body, and in the physical way you feel. Your fatigue will be less and you will start to develop a control over your bodies dependency on certain foods.

Gaining control and being conscientious every step of the way is the path to dietary zen! heehee.

Dig in!  

‘Cause I’ll be Dancin’

At over 22 million views on Youtube.com, Lady Gaga’s newest music video, Telephone, is getting all sorts of feedback. Some find it fascinating, some find it appalling. But the real focus is what it represents. No one needs to understand the reason for the cans in Lady Gaga’s Coke-head hair-do. It’s pop! There is no single answer.

Just like fashion or art, it’s is a persons own ideas that make up a piece of work. Don’t ask why there are product plugs. She’s funding her entire tour from her own pocket.

I think the video is her interpretation of self-expression. It may seem weird, but imagine if you could freely express yourself. Do you think anyone would find your interpretation ‘normal’?

Then again, I have only become a serious fan about 3 months ago. I won’t know much until I get the chance to experience her in concert. But whatever, that video is some seriously impressive shit! It’s like looking into the mind of Gaga!

So, when are you coming to Las Vegas, Lady Gaga?

Per her website it seems she will be here in August. The 13th at the MGM Grand. Tickets have NOT gone on sale yet, however and rumor has it, they will be pret-ty pricey! Let’s hope not!

A new location for an Austin original?

If you’ve ever worked in the restaurant industry, then you’re aware of the employee’s favorite amusement…Gossiping!

Mostly, it involves fellow employees, but the gossiping frequently extends to the customers, especially the regulars. Now don’t judge me, we all do it! In some form, how ever you take it, you get your satisfactory fill of other peoples drama.

Some rumors do have more depth to them than others. For instance; is there or is there not another Opal Divine’s in the making? Since the last time I heard this little piece of news, it has kept up with the trend of spreading and morphing just like any other good little rumor should do.

At first, I heard the Parker’s, (owners) were setting up shop in Westlake. However, yesterday I was told it was going to be in Round Rock. Hmm, so which is it? Or is it simply a rumor that will never materialize?

Personally, I think Westlake is a much better choice. Although Round Rock, as a whole, has less diverse hangouts than west Austin, west Austin can provide the type of customer that Opal’s is looking for. With their wide selection of fine malts, a tasty collection of 100% blue agave tequilas and beers that would give any connoisseur butterflies, Opal’s deserves a crowd that has an adventurous palate.

That is not to say R.R. doesn’t have its perks as a location for any joint, it just seems like the better choice; for 1) the demographic of Westlake is perfect for the type of resaruant/bar Opal’s is, and 2) if you are going to offer said selection of booze then go where the money is! I just don’t see Round Rockonites with that type of enthusiasm. In addition, Opal’s doesn’t really seem to cater to the sports crowd and they will loose out significantly on profits in R.R. since there is so much competition in Round Rock to be the cool sports bar hangout.

Either way, good luck to the Parker’s! This restaurant is one of a kind!

Then again, this is my humble consumer opinion and I could be dead wrong. Who’s going to listen?