Archives for September 2010

Seriously.

Is any-Paleo-one more prolific than I in trashing veg*ans? Yet they read, some, and stick around. If you’ve been paying attention you’ll see them in comments, and I get emails, too. Plant based gluttons for punishment? OK, let me not get off on the wrong track because I have something to share. And this in advance of the vegan trashing Dr. Mike Eades’ blog that I may hammer tomorrow. But no promises. I may feel differently in the morning.

Erin rings in:

I am a vegetarian- but I’m not writing to complain.

I find many issues with vegetarianism, but I feel that holes could be poked in any diet. I hate the cultish feel generated by all of them, when all I’m trying to do is eat rationally and not join some bullshitty new-age group.

In an ideal setting, I would have my own plot of land with varieties of vegetables and fruits. There would be laying hens wandering around, and I suppose at least one annoying-ass rooster. (I am on a temp work assignment in Hawaii and roosters are everywhere. They are god-damned annnoying animals).

That being said, I work as a Combat Exercise Planner and essentially use my war expertise to help train troops to more effeciently engage in combat. I have no real problems with humans killing humans, but humans killing animals just seems unnecessary to me.

(My doctor assures me I’m not a sociopath. I am just an "INTP")

I don’t think my life is less important than an animal’s. I do believe, however, that animals would prefer not to live miserably on shitty farms- which I think rational people could agree with. If obtaining food were a game of cat-and-mouse, I could probably get behind it- just like war. But raising and systematically killing milions of malnourished animals for our own food seems like cheating to me.

I know that people in your camp are offended by wiping out perfectly good ecosystems by planting soy/wheat/corn – as am I. This is where most of my problems with vegetarianism arise. My question for you is, other than meat- what is included in your diet? I ask because I am genuinely curious to know. I’d like to cut out soy from my diet but it is seemingly unavoidable. What carbs do Paleo-dieters eat, other than plant sugars? What protein do you eat, other than meat?

I read that you went to DLI- cool- me, too. But then I got out of the marines and studied visual arts at Columbia University. Maybe that’s why I’m such a confused girl… ha

OK, yea, soy is crap (use the search function as I have entries with references). Since you’re vegetarian, why not get your protein from dairy? Other than milk, you have cottage cheese, whey powder and many other ways. And hell, you could do a dozen eggs a day and that wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Y’know, come to think of it, I could probably pretty easily be a vegetarian, which actually means that as someone pointed out in comments some time ago, the real distinction is in those who eat animal products vs. those who don’t. Vegans against the rest of the world.

And now I’ll leave it open to comments

Entries are coming in for the silly Free the Animal Rant Contest. So be silly. Give it what you can.

~~~

…The last three weeks or so have been gruesome with the move, et al. Worst of all, I came down with another instance of what I firmly believe I have Google diagnosed as trochanteric bursitis. I believe I’ve had it before, mistakenly thinking it was sciatica — which I have also had long time ago..but thought is was a different manifestation last time. I think it happened from just over use in the move, i.e., hundreds of squats and bed-overs per day for days straight (packing / unpacking boxes, assembling furniture, ceiling fans, mounting flat screen TVs to hidden wire perfection, and such all contributed).

The pain is awful — nearly constant and it’s worse when sitting standing, or laying down (you should see how I have to contort to sleep — I quit taking the 800mg Motrin I was taking for a while before bed). Walking is the best relief. So, after nearly three weeks of it  and no gym — and it’s getting better — I did a relatively light workout at the gym today and had substantial relief for several hours. Now, the constant pain begins to set in, again, but diminished. I’m definitely on the downslope. I’m hitting the gym again Friday. Of note, I did 10 reps deadlift at 135 just to test, then went to other things to see if the hip stayed calm. No problem, so I came back and did a very easy 185 x 6. I may go for my 295 x 6 on Friday so I can move to 305. I really hate that I got set back from hitting that 300# deadlift mark through this period.

But I’ve been eating well. So disappointed I didn’t get any shots of the three pounds of tri-tip, two pounds of boneless pork ribs and a 1 1/2 pound roasted chicken on a single big platter I did this weekend for Bea’s local family. There was no meat left. This is my deal: no bread, pasta, rice, beans or any other woefully inferior cheap "nutrition," but, I’m fuckin’ gonna fill you up on meat if you’ll have it. How good a deal is that?

Click all photos below for the hi-res versions.

Roast Chicken & asparagus. Dried Italian herbs & olive oil. Lightly coat fresh asparagus with EVOO, some sea salt, and cookie sheet it for 20-40 minutes @400 until you like it. Crunchy tops are great. French fry subs.

Chicken & Stinky Pee

We have a fig tree in the new backyard, two lime trees, and a pomegranate in the front yard. Since we moved in I’ve been moved about how I might be able to use the figs. Ready. How about in a sauce with jalapenos?

Fig & Stuff

All that including the fresh chopped garlic & onion you see, went in the saute pan with a bit of butter. Then, all of it went into the so-called "magic bullet." I say that cause it sucks. I’m getting a Vita-Mix. Fuck bullshit.

So because there was a total lack of magic in the bullet, I ended up having to strain anyway, and so reduce more because the liquifies fiber — if i had magic — would’ve alleviated the need to strain.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. The very first step is to reduce red wine to a syrup. Do not introduce it to an ongoing reduction. Do this first.

Shitty Photo

Then you add your stock & fixins and continue to reduce. I needed no thickener at all, so maybe a little magic happened.

Then I was done, with some Caprese salad left over and an heirloom tomato.

Apples & Oranges

Oh, yea, all the peeps in attendance wanted grilled burgers even though I offered steaks.

Salisbury?

Last night was just Bea & I, and I had in mind an enormous salad of butter and green leaf lettuce with tomato (heirloom), finely sliced onion, peeled and cubed cucumbers, and blueberries…

Salad

I just drizzled olive oil on it, and the juice from a half of fresh lime or so, from the backyard.

And then I grilled "country style boneless pork ribs" @ about $3.50 per pound. Get The Salt Lick dry rub, which I get at BBQs Galore here in CA, rub down the meat liberally and let it set 30 minutes or more at room temp. For these kinds of ribs where you don’t need to get them to fall off bones as there aren’t any, a low BBQ will do the trick, turn every 15-30 minutes for a total of 45-60, but watch. Done is done and you don’t want to dry them out.

Boneless Pork Short Ribs

Today, I ate about a pound of those leftover, right outta the fridge, post workout.

Oh, I almost forgot. Sashimi on app, last night.

Sash

You know what? Upon serious reflection; Fuck vegans. Uh huh?

I laughed at myself as I wrote that — the contest part. I’m pretty much never interested in contests, and truth be told: I’m happier if you aren’t either. So then, do it for the fun & sport and the title. The thing is, this will be unlike any contest in the paleo realm you’ve ever seen. Or, it could flop, because it’s not going to be easy. Fun, but not easy.

It so happens that I have on hand some supplements of good quality that are beyond my current capacity to use in a timely fashion (notice how bad I suck at writing a blog to energize you about the contest). Mark Sisson’s Damage Control Master Formula. Now don’t take this the wrong way. I have a two month’s supply, unopened, and the reason I do is because I was on autoship for a number of months, but I don’t supplement daily. I do it intermittently. Consequently, his one month supply lasts me 2-3 months. I’m giving away one of those unopened cases, shipped anywhere in the world I can — and if I can’t ship to the winner, I’ll make it good one way or the other. If this goes well I’ll give away the other month in a similar contest.

Here’s the contest: you need to write a 300 word rant, give or take 50 words (so, 275 – 325…about 3 minutes speaking, ’cause I’m going to read the winning entry in video). English, of course. No rules as to what words you choose. Vulgar as you want, but that could run against you if not in context and too gratuitous. Bottom line is that vulgarity alone won’t win it for you. Cleverness and style will. Think Dennis Miller in his best days.

Now that’s gonna be fucking hard, isn’t it? No, it isn’t, because I’m going to give you such a 9 minute, target rich environment that’s you’re gonna come away thinking that this is gonna be as easy as Obama winning a ‘get your ass kissed’ contest.

Here’s the video and I’ll fill in the last of the details below.

What did I tell you? Here’s the link to the article. And a quote by moron number one, "Pixel."

Pixel spoke with loads of celebrities at PETA’S 30th Anniversary Gala in Hollywood, California, on Saturday. Alec Baldwin, Pamela Anderson, Anjelica Huston and more talked about giving a voice to animals. ‘I was amazed how many people really were animal activist, vegetarians, vegans, no leather. They were doing more than going Naked for PETA; they are living by their beliefs of protecting animals’ she said.

Breathless drivel. How. Fucking. Exciting.

Bryan Adams performed "Everything I Do" and the evening was filled with tributes that moved the audience to tears.

And tearful.

Now, I could write a post in any number of ranting directions; so see, it’s really easy as shit. Pick a single celebrity, machine gun the whole lot, or focus in on the overall transparency of the whole torrid affair. I have no preference and I have no idea which entry could be best.

Her’s the method. I’m going to pick the best three and either — I haven’t decided yet — publish them and put them to a community vote, or, email them to a few of my many paleo contacts and decide by committee. In either case the top three will be published — maybe more — so if I go by committee and we screw it up, comments will be open for your wrath.

Now, many of you put up ranting comments regularly. Just put in a bit more effort and you may have a shot at the title.

Oh, email your entries to me a the freetheanimal email address on the about page. DO NOT post your entries to comments. And you have until Friday morning, 10/1, 8am PST.

If I were inclined to predict the future — an exercise in which I only indulge by observing principles, culture and history — roughly in that order — I’d have to give Paleo a decent shot at becoming dominant. There are many reasons for that — probably enough to fill a book — but I try to keep a keen eye out for other possibilities.

For sure, paleo is definitely hitting its mark in surprising ways and what’s more interesting to me is that veg*nism has had a long, long run and I simply don’t see the potential groundswell for it that I do for paleo (you had your chance: Fork. In. Done.). Call me Pollyanna, and I’ll actually accept the criticism; I could be all wrong. But here’s how I stack it up: it essentially comes down to a choice of living in accordance with your nature, or drinking the Cool-Aid, repenting of your dietary "sins," and taking your penance; with bonus points if it makes you sick, fat, weak, miserable or preferably, all of the above — all the while fooling yourself into thinking you’ve "never felt better," like some poor wretch giving a standup testimonial at an evangelical tent revival because she’s so starved for attention (and her husband left her for the organist). Anyone have a preference, at all? I note the way that culture and history have rolled along and thankfully, people have an "annoying" propensity to ultimately do the fuck as they please. Could paleo fill in a missing thing or two for many where various veg*n doctrines and catechisms have routinely fallen short? I guess we’ll see.

The gradual decline of strong religion (in a cultural and historical sense) over centuries is instructive. Upon the advent of the idea of religious freedom (your choice; none — mine — or go through the motions for social harmony) it likely could have been predicted — probably was — to much hand wringing — that the overriding trend would be towards less and less religious influence in your everyday life. Religion for most, even for the moderately religious, has become little more than a mantle piece. That’s a good thing in my assessment, but I suppose I’ll keep on making fun of it even after the Hummel Humpty Dumpty is shattered into pieces — even as some still can’t bring themselves to part with it even though All the Pope’s Horses and All the President’s Men — bedfellows — can’t put Humpty together again.

Yes, health has many facets and toxins exist in many places…

There are a number of things converging. You now have a plethora of Paleo-related blogs (check out the comments). Many different flavors for many kinds of folks, and that’s good. Let some be quasi-religious about paleo — or totally agnostic: me. The point is that things are shaping up in the finest traditions of fun & freedom. How free are you with Hezbollian Veganism? And was the point of it ever about fun?

And then there’s Mark Sisson’s The Primal Blueprint and now, Robb Wolf’s newly published The Paleo Solution — already hitting its mark at The New York Times list. Granted, it’s small potatoes compared to the books sold by Campbell, McDougall, Esselstyn and Ornish. And the four of them are small potatoes compared to Bible sales. And yet, is religion gaining ground in a cultural and historical way, or losing ground as already hashed out? And look how much the latter five have in common. Foremost, they share a particular method of human manipulation: guilt. Make a person feel guilty — even and in particular: unearned — and they’re putty in your hands.

Fuck that noise, Animals.

The bright spot in all of this is that the vegans, like creationists and "Intelligent Designers," wholly lack the scientific background, mental discipline, logical consistency and a whole host of other crucial attributes (like ability to form an objective argument) to advance their cause beyond jerking off the masses ( I believe "energizing" is the pussy-PC way of putting it). Want to know what I mean? Well in any debate the creationists are generally going to spurn science when the apparent facts and evidence go agains them (usually the case) and rely upon "authority;" namely, that of some ancient, conveniently interpreted text — from dirt scratching origins to glass & steel skyscrapers — like The Bible. Vegans do exactly the same thing. If you have the stomach (and time) for it, see comments at Denise Minger’s blog. I recently blogged about a typical example.

Speaking of Denise, she’s kept busy and I’ll take some liberties with the post titles which she has nothing to do with.

• The T. Colin Campbell Smackdown, an Addendum
• The Formal T. Colin Campbell Smackdown Because Habitual Liars Don’t Know When They’re Done
• The Wheat Connection: A T. Colin Campbell Smackdown For Just In Case You Didn’t Know That  in Terms of Fact Interpretation, Campbell is as Loose as a Two Bit Whore
• The Total Liar-Fuckhead Smackdown: Teresa T. Fung, ScD; Rob M. van Dam, PhD; Susan E. Hankinson, ScD; Meir Stampfer, MD, DrPH; Walter C. Willett, MD, DrPH; and Frank B. Hu, MD, PhD. And let’s not forget that fat-faced, rosy-cheeked make-up-less clown of the "Chubby Faced Diet" himself, Dean "Smiley" Ornish

Had enough? Good, ’cause there’s more. Remember Chris Masterjohn? He and Anthony Colpo took on The China Study way back (here and here), when it was still but a gleam in a rapist’s eye — dietary rape, that is.

Chris Masterjohn has been particularly supportive of Denise (you can see that in comments in many of the links, above). And not only in comments on her posts but in doing more digging himself. Again, I’m taking liberties with post titles.

• T. Colin Campbell Sycophants Just Won’t Die
• T. Colin Campbell Can Be Reduced to a Single AssHolism
• T. Colin Campbell is a Protein Deficient Rat

The last of those links was just published and served as the Sunday morning motivation to put this post together. Amazingly, what Chis shows is that way back when, Campbell recognized and scientifically showed that the diet he now advocates constitutes protein deficiency, was labeled as such, and caused all sorts of problems including cancer (in rats). And today, apparently for notoriety and a buck, he advocates for humans the exact opposite of what his studies demonstrated a few decades ago. Consequently, I’ll not be softening my vitriol for that asshole anytime soon.

No; I’m not done yet, but just so we’re clear, neither Denise nor Chris have anything to do with my muckraking, above. This is my sport, and I take full responsibility. As of right now, nearing the end of this draft, neither have a clue as to what’s coming and I have no idea in the world what they’ll think about it.

So let’s wrap this up with a video that is in some ways conciliatory to the veg*ans, since I’m such a fair-minded kinda guy.

I give you the former Liar in Chief (as distinguished only by date of holding office; i.e., the "medicine man;" the closest primal analog I can think of: he’s always a liar, as that’s his raison d’être; we seem as yet — qua human meta-culture — to not have evolved past the point of needing a chief liar, the one who sets lying policy for all; seemingly, because we can’t live with the harshness of reality, preferring the opium of sweet sweet lies).

Just watch the video.

That video doesn’t really enrage me, believe it or not. Actually, in some queer sense, I find it pleasing. It’s rather like observing children who’ve latched onto serious and important practical elements of getting it right going off into maturity and adulthood, while remaining frustrating all at the the same time because they’ve got the fundamentals all wrong and don’t yet understand shitall.

"No, dear, it’s not because Susie is a girl and you’re supposed to treat girls nice. It’s because you minded your own business, she’s her own person and so you get along fine."

"No Mr. Bill Clinton, Dr. Esselstyn, Dr. Ornish; it’s not because the Liar in Chief followed your hocus-pocus, evolutionarily vapid medicine-man diet, it’s because he cut out the very modern and recent no-food crap that gave him heart disease in the first place, you miserably myopic morons."

Alright, it’s a Sunday afternoon wrap. I’ll be sorely disappointed and will consider my mission failed if no one tells me in comments that this is over the top and they’re not reading my blog, anymore.

09/27/2010: Just up this morning, Denise Minger on JimmyMore’s Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb podcast.

 Spotted on FailBlog the other day.

No Foods

Tied up doing a moving sale right now, finally getting to near the end of this process. So this’ll have to do, for now.

Since I saw that pic I’ve dumped using the term "Processed Foods" in favor of the term "No-Food "’Foods.’"

It began right here in a comment on an older post about T. Colin Campbell.

Chris Califano // Sep 22, 2010 at 06:27

Where is the “ample evidence” about whey protein that you mention? What are the specific studies about the benefits of animal protein that you say exist? Where is there a need in human nutrition for animal protein in Harrison’s Medical ? Or in any medical book? I am not for or against any food due to my own habits or food habits or cultural background or even family upbringing. I always, by trial and error ate what gave me the best health and physical performance-and that of my clients who I have trained and coached for 30 years. If there is a better way to eat, we do it. This is not a pissing match. We are all working together for the same end I would hope.

I replied with a specific list of seven references, courtesy of Anthony Colpo (from his original The China Study review), that dealt specifically with whey and its properties in isolation (the same way Campbell studied casein).

While Chris Califano has not yet replied to that, he did drop another comment on another post about Denise Minger’s exhaustive work (PDF).

Chris Califano // Sep 22, 2010 at 08:33

T Colin Campbell only gets a fraction of the credit that he deserves. History shows that all greatness is discredited first, then accepted as gospel. The earth used to be flat…people were tortured and killed for stating that we are not at the center of the universe and so on.., you know the rest. Only those “pioneers” who REALLY were interested in furthering the health and performance of humans would leave their comfort zone and discover and then APPLY what works better long enough to even understand what this whole discussion is about. I challenge ANYONE to challenge T Colin Campbell on the fact that a whole plant based diet (not processed plant foods weak in fresh fruit or greens, or silly “vegan” or “healthy” snacks and all that mumbo jumbo in a package) produces superior health, AND athletic performance in strength, endurance and flexibility. History, numbers and thousands upon thousands of case studies do not lie. Look around you. The human body does not lie either. Just take a close look… do you dare? If you look at meat eaters long enough you will see what happens to these poor people. The only ones who survive on animal foods are those who eat very small amounts, usually less than 5% of their diet, as Campbell points out. How many people even know that even most carnivorous animals easily eat the bulk of their diet from whole plant foods? I only enjoy criticisms and arguments when they come from serious people with serious knowledge and experience. ANYone can argue. But only a stubborn few, such as Campbell, actually ADD to our knowledge and experience base…. which is quickly deteriorating … especially due to the internet. “Research” and “Metadata” and “Experience” seem to be meaningless in most cases. Please will someone (ANYONE) show some viable arguments that are backed up with equal triple reviewed metadata? Please!!!! I am so bored with those who, due to their own ideas… grasp on to arguments just for the sake of NOT leaving their “dark cave” of what they are used to…. come on, people.. leave your comfort zone just for a moment… you may discover.. God forbid! that the rewards and pleasures and REAL comfort that you get in return is more than you ever imagined.

OK, so first, who is Chris Califano? Here’s his website: The First Supper. He boasts a lot of great results which I’m not going to dispute at all. I believe him and his body composition simply speaks for itself. I do note a complete lack of body composition comparisons on his testimonial page. That is certainly not to say they don’t exist or that some raw vegans don’t whither away as so many do, or even that it’s not possible to build significant strength or lean muscle doing raw vegan "right," granting for the time being that there exists such a thing (especially considering most humans and not outliers).

I bring this up simply because he claims to have been at this for so long while guys like me and others in the paleo community who’ve been blogging only a relatively short while can produce tons of body composition comparisons. Here’s a few from my own "Real Results" page: Murray, Timothy, Michelle, Austin, and finally, Chris, who dumped 106 pounds of fat in six months by going Paleo.

Of course, this is just the body composition. There have also been numerous other health improvements; such as blood glucose normalization, improvement or elimination of inflammatory diseases, increases in energy and stamina, improved sleep, and the elimination of some — or in many cases — all prescription medications.

And it’s not just here. Tons of success stories at Mark Sisson’s Primal Daily Apple. And in Robb Wolf’s just published "The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet," you can read what appears to be dozens of testimonials covering weight loss, strength / athletic performance, and health.

So my second issue is this. In the first comment Chris says: "I always, by trial and error ate what gave me the best health and physical performance-and that of my clients who I have trained and coached for 30 years. If there is a better way to eat, we do it. This is not a pissing match. We are all working together for the same end I would hope." Well I was prepared to believe that but go read that second comment again and tell me whether you really believe it or not.

OK, I know there are tons of things to pick at above but I chose just those two. Anyone else want to take a shot at the "CHALLENGE?"

I’m only a few chapters into this book but I figured, why wait? And, I’ve skipped ahead here and there and read bit & pieces just to see how Robb would handle them.

As I’ve mentioned both here on the blog and in all the interviews I’ve done, Art De Vany was the first guy in the paleo realm I had contact with. Well, Robb Wolf was the second and I’ve been following his stuff ever since. I don’t know where he took notice of me along the line, but we’ve exchanged emails from time to time going back a while. Then a couple of weeks ago I was pleased to have a copy of Robb’s book show up. Unfortunately I couldn’t dig into until yesterday but I’m breezing through it and it’s hard to put down, which is saying a lot coming from me.

So who’s Robb Wolf? I’m glad you asked. From his bio:

ROBB WOLF, a former research biochemist is one of the world’s leading experts in Paleolithic nutrition. A student of Prof. Loren Cordain, author of The paleo Diet, Wolf has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world via his top ranked iTunes podcast and wildly popular seminar series. Wolf has functioned as a review editor for the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, is cofounder of the nutrition and athletic training journal, The Performance Menu, co-owner of NorCal Strength & Conditioning, one of the Men’s Health "top 30 gyms in America" and co-owner of paleo Brands Inc. a paleo food company selling meals and snacks featuring grass fed meat, wild caught fish and all organic ingredients.

Wolf is a former California State Powerlifting Champion (565Lb Squat, 345lb Bench, 565lb Dead Lift) and a 6-0 amateur kickboxer. He coaches athletes at the highest levels of competition and consults with Olympians and world champions in MMA, motocross, rowing and triathlon. Wolf has provided seminars in nutrition and strength & conditioning to various military entities including the Canadian Light Infantry and the United States Marine Corps.

If you’ve ever listened to Robb’s Paleo podcasts which are simply amazing, then you’ll be right at home with the style of the book. It’s written in a very personal style, is super well organized, and quite light and humorous when it needs to be. It’s a fun read with absolutely no compromise on the completeness of the information. However, for those who don’t want the "Geek-Speak," sections in the book so-labelled, they can just skip to the part where you can do exactly what Robb tells you.

Needless to say I heartily recommend this latest addition to the growing library of current books on the paleo lifestyle.

I am therefore inclined to embrace the heretical conclusion that we have reason to desire the extinction of all carnivorous species.

Jeff McMahan — professor of philosophy at Rutgers University and a visiting research collaborator at the Center for Human Values at Princeton University — in The New York Times.

Really, such head-shaking ignorance doesn’t even merit a post of this short length.

Last week I received a welcome email from Kevin Koskella requesting to do an interview. I had seen a number of things at the Healthy Mind, Fit Body website in the past and so I was enthusiastic about getting on a Skype call with Kevin and his partner in the venture, Wes Bertrand. You can check into their backgrounds here.

Coming in at about 35 minutes, it was really a lot of fun, very relaxed and I must say that the format with two guys both keying off each other provides for a very conversational “interview.” It’s more like a discussion.

To make it as interesting as possible from my perspective I tried to challenge and/or poke fun ot a number of “sacred cows” in the paleo community. Not too heavy, but perhaps enough to stimulate some discussion. At any rate, here’s the link to the post, and here’s the direct link to the podcast itself.

I hope you enjoy it. Listening back this morning, I was satisfied that the three of us delivered on a relaxed discussion that would be of benefit and interest to both those new to the paleo scene as well as the old hands looking to refine their approach to this style of living.

Likely the biggest head shaker for me these days is the way I observe so many people conducting their lives in a sort of planned, scheduled manner. It’s not the idea of planning or scheduling that makes me grin, but the underlying ferocity of it — as though it’s some guarantee that you’ll be alright if you simply plan, schedule, then employ the discipline to see that planned schedule through with enough righteous resolve to lop off any heads that get in your way.

From a man’s perspective, I think women are generally more susceptible to this, especially with young children and particularly, first time mothers. And I say that because I have as reference a mother who raised us four boys — myself being the oldest — and two grandmothers who raised two daughters (maternal), and five boys and a daughter and got them out of post WWII Germany to America in the 50s (paternal)…as well as a great grandmother (maternal) who raised a boy and a girl on her own through the Depression and who I had the great privilege to grow up around (she had my grandmother at age 14). She didn’t die until I was in my late 20s. I must tell you: growing up with a great grandmother is quite a special thing. The stories she told… Those women were all giants to me, all different, and none of them was the slightest bit like what I observe in women here on a daily basis. I dunno: "Quantum Overprotection?" Anyone have a better moniker? It’s weird. If anyone had reason to be super protective given the nonexistent "social net" and a host of other "hazards," it was those great giants of women in my life. Now, you have "mothers" slathering their kids in every anti-bacterial product and sunscreen they can buy. Shrewd marketing leading the blind and ignorant, I guess.

…This post is all over the place, by the way, and it will include much food porn.

As you know I’ve been moving house, over about the past week. But this time, I handled it quite differently. Rather than dive in and go, go, go, I just flowed naturally. We used professional movers — guys I and my family have used before. We did some of the packing, had them do some. Then they did the move, but the unpack is for us to do. I want to get rid of tons of stuff (see here, though that’s just inspiration: 100 Things). But even so, we’re taking it very easy. All the stuff was moved in last Thursday. That night, Bea & I decided to have a few cocktails and go out for a nice dinner, instead of doing anything (the bed was set up).

Grass Fed and Corn Fed

Friday happened, she was way tired and I just went out, got a roasted chicken from Lunardi’s down the street, and we did nothing. Nothing.

Saturday and Sunday were supposed to be the big work days. Well, our friends Robert & Julie from the lofts called around 10, intending to stop by around 11; and so they did, but with a bag of groceries, grassfed franks from Lunardi’s and other stuff — just three minutes down the street (and across the street from Whole Foods). So we grilled those up, dived into the scotch (wine for the girls) and they helped us unpack, organize, and get the living room and dining room into shape. After all, we had a marathon to get through. Cards (Spades) happened until about midnight. Robert & I won, as is the natural order. 🙂

So by letting a little Real Life in to disrupt our "schedule," we actually ended up better off. But that was unforeseen. Just a bonus of life, of friends who we’re already missing because we no longer live in the "Friends" or "Seinfeld" dynamic we moved away from.

But grassfed franks for lunch was not enough. I made another run to Lunardi’s, my frozen stock was in the freezer, and all I needed was a bottle of red wine and some fresh garlic.

Four Big Filets

Sauced

Sunday was some work on our parts, and dinner was not worth mentioning (crap fest, but we were too tired and frankly, craving a bit of McD crap).

So Monday comes after Sunday and while we broke down a few boxes and I did a bunch of cleanup (including getting the housekeepers going at our old place), we just took everything in a leisurely stride. We’re here, things are getting done to our liking, and we’re not killing ourselves under a schedule with no discernible purpose. Invigorated by the memory of Saturday night’s very pure reduction of red wine, stock, and garlic, I went at it again, this time with ribeyes.

Grilled Ribeye

Not enough. Not yet. Yesterday, Tuesday, we made good little progress on the whole project. I had to meet Bea at the veterinarian (HUGE post on the 1 1/2 month ordeal with Rotor — probable pancreatitis — and Mr. Peter Hyperlipid’s life saving help; coming up) in the afternoon, showing up barefoot, yeehaa! There are lingering issues, but I’ll blog that in a series or a long post. Just goes to show that animals — including humans — can do marginally in a modern, non-wild world.

The sauce reduction was great first time, a little less good second time, and I nailed the syrup the third time. It may have been that I chose ribeyes for round 2. For the third time around I went back to flilets and exercised patience with a very slow reduction. Here’s the deal: 1/4 cup red wine per serving, reduce by half, add stock about double that amount, and slow reduce, like on low. Add some butter (1 tsp per serving, or more) and spices to taste along the way.

Filet & Syrup

Yep, I got this reduction better than right. I also got the grill right.

Perfect Grill

All this, in the middle of a move. Maybe a lot of people would have gotten it done a lot sooner. Has to be done, y’know. On the other hand, I have a certain contentment that in keying on the raw energy of the change, the move that we are excited about, I’ve turned it into various other things, including cooking, that I can imagine will serve our memories of the thing a bit better in the long haul.

I am impressed — that concept goes both ways — far too often with people who shun & spur life’s serendipities for the sake of discipline and a schedule that was put into a computer or a planner, and damn life!

Fuck that.

You know what? While still very slammed and with a very sore back from hundreds of unpacking boxes-squats per day, I’ll likely be back wigth you later — something about letting life happen. In the meantime, check out Zippy. …Oh yea, and I’m cooking the third dinner in a row with sauce reduction, grilled filets and ribeyes par tout. That’s part of the next blog. For right now…

Zippy from David Aldrich on Vimeo.

You thought this was just a diet. Oh…throw in some weights.

But what if "Paleo" is really a way of life writ modern; ’cause, face it folks, nobody’s going back. We’re stuck with agriculture’s follies. But neither are we dumb, nor lost. We’re hunters, right? So hunt. Hunt for Continuous Improvement in your life. Mistakes can cover decades but it’s never to late to improve your standing, from where you stand.

No, it’s not a search for primitivity or hardship or anything like that. I suppose the greens, tree huggers, and veggies of all sorts deserve some credit for being onto something; and since I’m giving them some credit, I suppose I oughtn’t be disingenuous about it. They groked that something was wrong. Terribly wrong. But apart from being woefully wrong in so many ways, they nonetheless established a certain style. I don’t really know what to call it — paleo wise — ’cause it’s not austerity, nor ought it be. That’s what so many of the former practice, especially nutritionally, but that’s only because they haven’t zeroed in correctly on what really bugs the fucking shit out of them.

Listen: as much shit as I deal them, much is simply style. …Because, it’s kinda funny to me that so many can be so right in spirit, so lost in application.

…It would be cool if everyone in the world tooled around in private jets. Ridiculous. But here’s what I think: if one can, why not everyone? Instead of butchering the best to make cannibal stew for the least, how about some context? You think the difference between the private jet setter and the back braker in the barrio is privilege? Shallow. Rags to riches to rags in…what is it…two, or is it three generations? Whatever it is, privilege is just another way of expressing luck. …Lottery millions…

It’s about living within the reasonable, conservative bounds of your own means and continuously improving, expanding your means. Or, the main reason I don’t galavant in a private jet is less about not having the financial means to do so than it’s not in the contextual scale of my life — yet. That’s why lottery winners constantly blow their millions. They followed the money, rather than the other way around

It’s not just about money. Most think it is but it really isn’t. It’s about improving your life so that what was before unthinkable becomes plausible, then possible — and then finally, real. Money helps, but most misuse it when it din’t follow personal improvement. While I do well financially, for example, I also understand that both a lot less or a lot more money fast would potentially destroy me.

Too obtuse? Don’t make money your goal. Make being really good your goal. If you find that you’re the best but nobody gives a shit then, well, you’re not going to get rich. but at least you know how to get good. Move forward. Scrap "the best buggy whips in the world" and move on. Improvement is by its very nature, dynamic. If you’re "into" improvement, you’re no longer into it if you stop. So, thinking "continuous" helps so you don’t forget.

Wrapping up in a more specific paleo context, this is what is so thriling generally about this community. We all come frm so many different places but is not the overriding theme in all of this nothing more fundamental than the endless search for continuous improvement?

Never, ever ending.

Yea, that’s a contradiction, which can’t really exist but, what I mean is that there’s never silence if you listen.

I’ve been slammed the last two days. Yesterday was the pack up day and I’m amazed and ashamed at once that two people can accumulate so much crap in a loft; a space designed to be high, but not so much surface area. Jesus.

Today was the move. And it’s really disgusting what a place you’ve lived in looks like when you move shit out of the way. It almost makes me question the whole notion of living in a fixed space — though I readily admit I sure can’t think of a better alternative. But maybe there’s something to the old "spring cleaning" custom where, as I gather, you essentially move everything out of the house, clean top to bottom and wall to wall, then move everything back in.

Years ago we bought an old house that had wall to wall carpeting — installed over beautiful 5/8" tongue & groove white oak hardwood flooring. There’s still hundreds of thousands, if not millions of homes in such a sad state of affairs — testament to the power of marketing and general stupidity. Yea, I ripped the carpet out on day one. I’d never thought a lot about the insanity of WtoW carpet before then — I just wanted at the wood — but this was in 1999 and I’ve vowed since then never to have it. Have you ever torn up carpet and seen what’s underneath?

And some balk at me not using soap or shampoo?

But here I sit after a long day, new, old place. Don’t know how old the house is, but the floor is 100% hardwood, except for tile in the appropriate places. Really cool large  backyard that the doggies love. We’re in the quaint Los Gatos area of the Bay. Just had grassfed beef in a local restaurant — big surprise — and I’ll see how the iPhone pics turned out later.

The place is still in shambles, of course — the bare essentials barely in place — but I don’t think I’ve ever been in a new living space where I didn’t stay up and just listen for the silence. You can’t find it; it’s not silence at all, but it’s a different "silence" than the "silence" you knew before, in your old place.

Too obtuse? OK, I’m fascinated by the noises the house makes. Virtually all spaces give off some noises, but tonight is interesting. I spent a good amount of time listening to this house over the weekend whilst installing ceiling fans, a doggie door, pot rack and so on. But now it’s quite active.

I guess it’s getting used to holding a few tons of gear it wasn’t holding before. Beatrice and I were talking tonight about how ridiculous it is to have so much stuff; and trust me, it’s modest by most standards. So, we’re going through every box the movers packed, together, and we’re going to be vicious. My general rule of thumb for clothes will apply: if I haven’t worn it in the last year, it goes, no matter what. Applied to the general, anything we haven’t used in at least a year, goes. No exceptions.

So for those of you always admonishing me to lighten up, there you have it.

Just some Friday fun. In the midst of moving; more on that, later.

You know which one you want to be.