Ups, downs, twists and turns were my 2018 on Earth. Strongly addicted to the sun, 2019’s goal is to exploit this addiction. Winter in the midwest is ever dreary – depleting my mojo, yo. If you experience the harsh winter, hang in there. Be positive:)
Please, take more quality photos, ride more bikes, enjoy good local brews and cook your own food:) Don’t forget to get plenty of sunlight. It’s the only reason that we’re alive.
I went to Dixon, IL, yesterday, for a gravel (bicycle) ride which was more of multi-surface ride with a mixture of various levels of gravel and road. It was a great ride, just a shitty day. The wind was windy and cold. The sun was hidden and also cold. I rode 118.7 km (73.76 miles) which did complete Strava’s May Gran Fondo challenge.
I’ve blogged in the past about my difficulties with an athletic watch manufacturer and decided to go the Forerunner route, paying extra money for a Garmin Forerunner 235. It’s pretty sweet. I can track my rides as it is a Garmin. I can track runs, if I ever did run. I do not run. This watch monitors my heart rate and also my sleep.
Last June, I attempted to track exactly what I did that entire month and put it into a blog that no one read.
It is and was extremely hard to monitor sleep manually. Next month will be a different story. Technology is our friend, but it is up to us how close of a friend it will be. But, first June has to get here. And June has to conclude to document an entire month of data and lifestyle.
Yesterday, on this gravel ride, I rode new roads, I drank a couple of new beers, met new people with some of the same passions and I RODE WITH A BULL. I also ate out at a deli, deliciously, confidently Ⓥeganly. The day sums up this way. You take an excellent cut of Bike Ride layered generously, Vegetable genocide of all sorts, being outside in nature with animals and life, garnished with an array of Good Beers adding character and flavor – STUFFED between two pieces of Good Bread. Consumption of a sandwich of this magnitude is VEGGHEAD BEERCYCLIST. And this is the good life.
Happy Sunday!
(No animals were harmed:)
Wishful thinking is very evident with me. Optimism is also utilized by myself. It is good to have goals. It is also good to make those goals reachable and obtainable. I am not nor ever will be a professional cyclist, but it is a intense hobby/sport for the physical aspect, yet moreover the mental strength needed to persevere.
Motivation by others will help reach goals, but you’re truly put to the test in a solo ride. This morning, I awoke with the game plan of a big ride. I mapped out a route on Strava at 140 km. The forecast was not very cycling friendly, but was deemed a go when I was mostly ensured the rain was not supposed to drop until evening time. I suited up, a bit underdressed, and rodeOn. I skipped breakfast and only ate B12 and C vitamins (with water) prior to my ride attempt. It was super cold the first hour and then the sun peaked through and my whole entirety of outlook was given a new life. Sun, energy, life is a huge contributor to my motivation.
I quickly began feeling warmer and more confident and immediately fell into the (my) normal routine. The new wheels recently acquired helped boost confidence as well. I changed my route to better my safety away from busier roads and traffic. I absolutely love riding gravel and not so much road (smooth terrain). I believe I roll better without increasing the power and gravel is usually dead with traffic other than occasional dogs that chase you (me:).
The (head) wind was blowing from every direction. I take pride in my ride, I went faster than not. I rode road, gravel, dirt, mud, water (puddles), grass and crushed limestone on this Gran Fondo.
It is a challenge on Strava that I oftenly partake in. Usually, I involve a beer or two towards the end of any ride, but chose not to today. I had to keep my mind clear and spin fast. I rolled back into town and forced my willpower and brain through another 15 km to reach the goal of the 100 km mark. I have before influenced myself to go the distance with a beer as motivation. I did not today. I concentrated on my average speed with the little energy brain power that I still did obtain.
I reached my goal of the Strava Gran Fondo challenge with 100.6 km with just a help from our little star, the sun, providing our world with life since time. I just wish to convey through my horrible English and run-on sentences, that having optimism and wishful thinking can be sparked and ignited by the littlest of things like a ray of sunshine when you’re about to back down and give up.
I had a victory beer after the actual victory. I had some food involving ORGANIC AVOCADO. I love making food, I just need to make portions smaller. I’ve been breathing Minestrone soup for weeks:)
Think positive, stay smart, and hope y’all are enjoying the weekend.
I finished this blog this morning spending two hours on it only for WordPress to fail and erase a huge chunk of data. So, I went for a ride.
I’ve been making kick-ass Chili for at least (well documented) five years now. It has only truly been documented a few times, but I mastered my style of chili probably ten years ago I just never knew it until around 5 years ago. I used to make this kick-ass DIP (for chips) using nothing but chicken and actual veggies working in a restaurant kitchen. You know, against the rules kitchen food, to feed the staff. And from there after plugging the concept in with chili type ideas, my style of Chili was born.
I cannot believe I had the mindset, at more than one points in the past, to keep my cheffing secrets, secrets until they made me millions. I have now forever retired from a kitchen that I do not own. Might as well share and help someone develop their own style.
October is kind of a HUGE month for me. The month includes or almost includes:
When your own personal well-being is healthy and you truly feel well, it makes life much easier. I feel when healthier than not, stress levels are down and energy levels are up.
Since making a Vegetarian lifestyle change, I’ve noticed extremely better health vitals and weight loss without a true workout routine, other than cycling. Every time that I donate blood (Double Red Cell), I am assured my once moderately high blood pressure is still low. My gym is adventure. My gym is outdoors.
Chili Secrets:
It shouldn’t necessarily be about ourselves as it should be about the animals, about the environment and truly realizing and comprehending the bigger picture. There is an impact bigger than just one person, cutting out meat/dairy or even just consuming less.
Chili ingredients (2009):
I’ve made different variations through the years. Creating a creamier sauce with adding Cheese until last year. I made Lentili without butter or oil and almost Vegan. I think I added Cheese that wasn’t completely Vegan.
Ever find an artist (music band) that makes you super excited after you find out the length of their discography to listen to. And only an eighth of their music is what you want and the rest is garbage. I really appreciate good bands that can stay consistently different through the years. Not sounding the same on every album, but not changing their roots either.
Yam Lentili ingredients:
I ain’t here to give cooking lessons. Use your imagination and have FUN! I did also make kick-ass Vegan Corn Bread. Seriously, play with your food!
Ⓥ Cream Corn ingredients:
I just mixed everything together, covered and set out for a good hour.
ⓋornBread ingredients:
Simply mixed together and baked.
Lentili Colcannon ingredients:
Balls & Strikes:
10.07.15 I’m taking my love for Chicago-style dawgs and Vegan lifestyle to another level tonight as the Chicago Cubs play the Pittsburgh Pirates in a wildcard matchup. The Cubs, not being in the post-season since 2008, are a stellar team this season.
10.08.15 The Chicago Cubs won and Jake Arrieta threw a complete game SHO (shutout). Jake has shown a poise that I’ve never seen from a Cubs pitcher. His confidence and simply his persona on the mound sometimes gives me goosebumps. The Chicago Cubs acquired Jake (and Pedro Strop) from the Baltimore Orioles on July 2, 2013 for Steve Clevenger and Scott Feldman. At the time I was sad to see Feldman go, but heard both Arrieta and Strop had potential. Arrieta pitched well the remainder of 2013 and 2014. He went 14-7 with a 2.81 ERA (Earned Runs x 9(innings in a game) ÷ IP (Innings Pitched)). And his numbers are in for 2015 with a whopping 22 wins to only 6 losses. Having the best stats ever after the all-star break. Baseball has been around since the 19th century. Baseball has been a game for a few minutes.
I have created the Ⓥ Jake Arrieta’s. Ⓥ=Vegan. I made five of these monsters being strong, consistent & extremely healthy. The Ⓥ Jake Arrieta is a friendly neighborhood Char Dawg.
Chicago-style Relish ingredients:
MIX 🙂
Since being close to 100 days Vegan, my body has skyrocketed to amazing well-being and health. I’m going to live for 300 years. And I think that I am shrinking while still being very strong. I can ride a bicycle so much better and faster. My energy level is through the roof. And I feel AMAZING.
Ⓥ Jake Arrieta a Ⓥegan Chicago-style Lentili CharDawg ingredients:
Extra Innings:
I also came up with a salad concept of Roasted Veggies mixed with Romaine and Lentili as the ‘dressing’. It was good. I made Sweet Potato chips with my first batch of Ⓥ Jake Arrieta’s, but I was a little too tipsy to take a decently good pic. Hopefully today is much better with the art of photography. I also made three Dawgs a little different, yesterday. I feel like I’m forgetting some stuff. DAMNIT.
The Cubs play STL in a best of 5 NLDS and I’ve been saying all season that if the Cubs want to win big, they have to be able to destroy STL. And they can. Go CUBBIES & Happy Friday!
And it is now Saturday.. HAPPY SATURDAY!
I came up with yet another Lentili concoction. This one is a Lentili Spudwich.
And these are a concept of eating Lentili without utensils, being Potato bowls filled with Lentili and Daiya!
VeggHead BeerCyclist 5.25.15
Began: 0824 Finished: 0907
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Tags: vegan, vegetarian, food, beer, craft, recipe, story, cycling, pics, organic, wellness, lifestyle, pictures, fun, Netflix
Title: Whiskey Wine Edamame
Daily Ride: Yes
Happy Memorial Day to all and to all of my blog readers that I think I have, I hope you had a great weekend!
I don’t care for much attention here on my WordPress space.. I used to have a MySpace, but unfortunately I deleted it years ago. I was good at MySpace unlike this WordPress where I can’t even understand how to layout my page. Maybe it’s laziness, maybe it’s my stupidity. Maybe I don’t even care. Does this blog really need much attention for my dumb and mostly pointless rants and raves. Maybe with the rants and raves I should have black lights and glow-in-the-dark whistles and bow ties as the layout. Really it’s just a blog with improper English and grammar that openly proves that I have a drinking problem and even more expensively, a cycling problem.
I might not be the healthiest person out there, but I take pride in making healthy choices and occasionally upgrading my healthy lifestyle. I might have a healthy problem. I’ve been partaking and mostly successful being Vegan on every Friday since January 9th of this year.
I’ve been 100% Vegetarian since January 29th, 2013. I’ve overcome various different obstacles and challenges basically every #VeganVriday.
I’ve decided to participate in #VeganWeekend every weekend starting this week. The entire weekend, Friday at midnight through Sunday at 11:59, would be completely Vegan. Do I plan on being a full time Vegan, no. Will I, very possible. As long as beer is vegan, anything is possible.
I’ve been without Netflix since April, 20th of this year. And Netflix actually cancelled my membership after a month. I like Netflix, I just don’t want to pay for it and I want to watch it less. I am human and have been streaming freely with Crackle and Tubi TV. There is a very nice and large selection between them both, you just have to deal with commercials… I hate commercials, but I’m doing just fine.
I’ve finally decided to move to the next cycling level and ordered cycling shoes and eggbeater pedals. I’m excited to see the difference and it better be a huge difference as I’m attempting the Strava Mt. Everest Napal climbing challenge in June of climbing 8,848 m, which is the height of Everest, in the month of June. I hate climbing… It is for a good cause.
Whiskey Wine Edamame:
I made this OILFREE 🙂
Ingredients:
-Red Wine
-Whiskey
-Lemon juiced no seeds,no stem
-Balsamic Vinegar
-Dill Weed
-Fresh Garlic, sliced
-Lentils, cooked
-Edamame, shelled & cooked
-Potatoes, largely chopped
-Turnip, largely chopped
-Carrot, largely sliced
-Tomato paste
-Parsley, for garnish
-Onion, chopped
-Fresh Kale, chopped
-Celery, largely sliced
-SeaSalt/Pepper/Cayenne/GarP
-Water or Broth
The Voyage:
I started by chopping the Potatoes, Turnip & Carrots and placing them on parchment paper on a larger baking sheet. I turned on the oven to 415*F and threw that pan in and continued to chop the veggies. I chopped the Onion, Celery & Garlic and set a side for a few minutes. I started the water for Lentils at some point. I also had a few beers. I decided to use these frozen shelled Edamame that happens to be #NonGMOProjectVerified. I threw the Edamame in with the lentils towards the very end for a few minutes. I then put the other veggies in with the already roasting oil-free veggies and stirred them up making them super crazy. They had a very sexy aroma. I put the Lentils and Edamame in a colander and drained the water while putting the pan back on the stovetop heat adding Red Wine (Cab), Whiskey, Seasonings, Balsamic Vinegar and Tomato Paste and brought almost to a boil. I timed the Booze to get hot as the Veggies were good to go and first added the Lentils and Edamame and then the Veggies to the Booze. If you add the Veggies before the Protein, the world will end. I then added the Lemon Juice and Kale and basically steamed the Kale while stirring. It is basically done whenever your desired doneness is achieved and the liquid has mostly vanished.
Enjoy if you try. No well wishes if ya don’t try. KIDDING! Have fun and take pics in whatever drives you!
VeggHead BeerCyclist 5.19.15
Began: 2110 Finished: 2218
VeggHead BeerCyclist 5.19.15
Began: 1426 Finished: 1516
VeggHead BeerCyclist 05.11.15
Began: 2151 Finished:
VeggHead BeerCyclist 05.02
Began: 2211 Finished: 0943
VeggHead BeerCyclist 