Moonlight.. Chand, Chanda, Chandi, Chandani

So, as I make my pre-dawn journey to work, through the urban sprawl and rancid tunnels of Boston, occassionally something pops out at me that reminds me that I am alive.  I was riding the B line, and it was 5 am, and still dark out.  A moodiness had over taken me, that I am not a stranger to, and I really was not looking forward to working.  Then maybe because I was exhausted, but I looked up, and I could see the full moon from the trolly.  The curious thing, however, was that I could see it from the other end of the train, through some bars.  I got this eerie feeling like I was being watched.  For a moment, I minorly flipped out, then I just enjoyed the pretty sight.  I went to grab my camera to get the shot, and when I looked up, the train had shifted slightly and it was gone….  Haha, what a parallel for my life, eh?

My energy level has been nil, but not because I am out all the time, but because I don’t eat correctly for a vegetarian. My work place does not provide for a veg lifestyle, so all I eat are salads and pasta.  I am dying for protein, and I think I am going to have to start cooking for myself again.

VEG

The other night, I got to experience my first Kaze Shabu Shabu. A group from this social community that I belong to, decided to have a Vegan/Vegetarian night on Monday. I signed up immediately, of course, because I have almost no veg friends to eat with. I have been on/off vegetarian for 2 years now, and I have been trying to adhere strictly to the lifestyle since I moved to Boston. Over the course of the two years I have been vegetarian, piscetarian (who eats fish), and a omnivore. When I am in West Virginia, it is difficult to find vegetarian food, and my family is one of meat eaters. Steak, ham, or chicken every night. When I was in Cardiff, I occasionally had sushi or salmon, which lead to me being piscetarian, and I am having a hard time giving up fish.

Since coming to Boston, I have been a much stricter vegetarian, but I could never be vegan.  Anyways, the Shabu was really good.  It is like fondue, in that you have a broth instead of oil to cook your food in.  I had a hot pot with a Miso broth, and I got the Vegetarian delight platter, which included mushrooms, tofu, greens, and various other veggies.  It was a lot of food, and I was extremely please with it.  It was a lot of food, and it was fairly cheap, especially with the free green tea.

Boston has a lot more choices for me, and I feel like I can eat what I want now.  I just wish work would recognize vegetarians, and actually have food for us.  There are two vegetarians in my department, and we have a hard time finding food for us in the cafeteria.  We have decided to bring our own to supplement the salad they have.

They say its your Birthday!….

When I get old, and losing my hair,

Many years from now!

Will you still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine?

If I’d been out to quarter to three,

Would you lock the door?

Will you still need me?  Will you still feed me?

When I’m  *twenty four!*

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Ok, so I modifed the Beatles song, but its true!  Its my ‘burday’.  Or my ‘birfday’, however you want to say it.  I am the big *2* *4*.  I was really apprehensive about spending my birthday alone in Boston, especially because last year was so amazing!  But, this year is shaping up to be quite great, as well!

Last night, I went out to a Yelp Event and met up with a bunch of people at the Vegan/Vegetarian bar called the Otherside Cafe.  Being the cheapy and skint that I am, I only spent four dollars the whole night, on Moroccan tea!   Around 930, Shyam and Sheila called to wish me a happy birthday, and the group I was with overheard, and they got me a cheesecake and sang to me!  It was seriously awesome to be sung happy birthday to by a group of strangers! 

Tonight, a friend from this group and I are going out to see There Will Be Blood which I am quite excited about since I have wanted to see it for awhile.  Such a heavy movie for a birthday day, but whatever.

Lets see, what else is going on this weekend?  Tomorrow, I am going to a Crafters Event up in Somerville.  A bunch of girls are getting together and we are going to knit and crochet in a cafe and hangout.  I can finally finish that scarf for a certain someone!

Then this weekend, I am going on a bar crawl with these same people from last night! Yay, I get to dress up and dance!

Thats about it, homez.  I gotta go to the gym now tho!

(A picture of me on my birthday celebration!)

Vegetarians and Vegans leave less of a carbon footprint?

Is it better for the enviroment to be a Vegan or a Vegetarian?

I work very hard to maintain a 98% vegetarian lifestyle.  Fish, especially sushi, is my one meat weakness.  Since moving back to the US, I have found it increasingly hard to maintain my food choices due to lack of options.  Eating ethnic food helps because Asian and Indian food contains lots of vegetarian dishes, but here in WV, vegetarian tends to mean salads.  I love salads, but I can’t eat them  every day.  I have also started to become more worried about the quality of the food I put into my body.  Chemicals, sugars, and other nasties in food have me hostage.  Once I get into my own place and eat more of my own foods, I think I am going to make a change to more organic produce and simple foods.

Eating less meat makes me feel good, and if I can help the environment while I am doing so, all the better!