FBI on my block

Does anyone know what was going on Tuesday morning? There were about 10 FBI agents on my block. They asked about a neighbor that no longer lives there and hasn't for about 6 months. Later in the morning I heard they were on Q Street as well.

Vegan MoFo

It is here, and I was too lazy and distracted to post yesterday, which means I might have to post twice in a day, or continue to be lazy and only post every so often. I am hoping that in posting, I will get back to it and start a regular posting schedule again.

I decided for my first post I was going to talk about why I am vegan, what lead me here, and why it is right for me.

When I was 18 I was friends with a girl named Amy, she was vegetarian. I decided to give it a whirl. I already didn't eat that much meat and it was a lifestyle that I completely agreed with. It stuck. Then I started college and a couple years in I had this great professor, John Simecek. He was vegan and he used his classroom to introduce people to veganism. He and I became good friends and I decided I wanted to be vegan. It was definitely hard at first. Grocery shopping took twice as long, since I had to read every label. I was so incredibly passionate and every conversation turned into something about veganism. I am surprised I maintained a single friend during this time. I was die-hard and if you weren't willing to at least try and change, I probably wasn't going to talk to you much. I was vegan for about two years, then I moved back near Flint. I didn't know any other vegans there and for some reason I decided that I wanted to start eating dairy again, so, I did.

When I went back to school for my second degree, I played around with veganism several times. I would decide to start my path towards veganism again, and then there would be tests or projects or extra shifts at work and I would need to eat something, and I would eat something that wasn't vegan. I would get frustrated with myself, but I also realized that maybe it wasn't the right time because I was clearly not dedicated enough.

Last May I moved to DC. I met Carolyn, who is vegan and we became really good friends. She told me about this wonderful messageboard called The Post Punk Kitchen. I would look at recipes every once in awhile, but I still didn't know about being vegan. Then, one day, it clicked. At the beginning of April I decided that it was time. I was ready, I was at a good place in my life and I didn't have a lot of distractions. More than anything it is the diet and lifestyle that works best for me. I feel the best when I am vegan, I sleep better, I feel good about the choices I am making. I also have started to think more about where my food comes from, how it was grown, who is affected by my choices. After making the switch, my decision was cemented further when I realized how easy it was! I had this great forum where I could talk to like-minded people, I made a lot of friends in DC that are also vegan and it has helped me feel better about my yoga practice. I think that being vegan in this city is a piece of cake. There are so many options when you go out to eat or grocery shop and people here actually know what a vegan is! It is also great to have friends and family that support me and love it when I make them yummy baked goods!

Vegan MoFo

The Vegan Month Of Food is coming up! I am going to try and participate. basically writing about vegan food everyday for a month. I am excited for the challenge, but there may be days of one line entries, because lord knows I have been slacking on the blog.

Speaking of which, I went to Brooklyn last weekend and hung out with some amazing people, I will post photos when I am not so tired.

I start yoga teacher training tomorrow, I also intend to post on this quite a bit!

Capital City Market

Does anyone know what time it opens on Saturday?

This sums up my week

There Great Raisin Debate.



Benny Boopsikins is visiting

Cupcakes and Cake!

Strawberry Vanilla Cake



The inside (I could have wiped down the pan to make it look nicer, oops)



Green Tea Cupcake



Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcake

And the Winner is....

Actually, I don't know the guy who won, but it was some guy that participates in eating contests. He had won a cheeseburger eating contest the day before.

My friend Dave, two tofu pups at a time!



Joshua and Karla, neither made it to the final round, but they did a damn good job!



I don't know this guy, but he was shoving the dogs down his throat, whole..ewww

Block Party!!!

We had a block party a couple weeks ago! It was really fun

Eat Local

I really want to try and make at least one day a week a day that I only eat locally grown food, and turn that day into a week, and that week into a month, etc. Anyway, I know I can get produce at Farmers' Markets, but I need suggestions about everything else. I am vegan, so dairy, eggs, and meat are not a problem, but what about grains, beans, etc?

Thanks

Who Likes Veggie Dogs???

COK & Sticky Fingers Bakery Host D.C.'s First Ever Veggie Hot Dog Eating Contest

Do you love to eat? Do you love free vegetarian food?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you just might be the perfect contestant for Washington, D.C.'s first ever Veggie Hot Dog Eating Contest, to be held on Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.!

Compassion Over Killing is teaming up with Sticky Fingers Bakery and Tofurky to host this event in honor of National Veggie Hot Dog Month, which also happens to coincide with the industry-declared National Hot Dog Month.

During July, while our nation celebrates its independence, we're also making it a celebration about kindness and compassion for animals. Join us at this event—either by feasting on dozens (well, maybe not dozens) of Tofurky Franks or watching others stuff their faces—and help us show how easy, delicious, and fun it is to choose vegetarian foods!

Need more incentive to come? Fabulous prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers as well as special gifts for each participant!

Plus, a percentage of all sales from Sticky Fingers Bakery throughout the entire day will be automatically donated to COK!

Don't delay—contestant registration closes Thursday, July 24!

Papa Johns

Nathan and I were so excited that they moved in down the street, but I think the people that work there don't want to do any work because we are now on our second phone call trying to order pizza and Nathan hasn't even been able to order yet because they cannot understand our address. The guy I talked to couldn't grasp that I only wanted two pizzas and no cheese. Well, he just hung up on them. I guess Pizza Boli it is!

Catching Up

Ever since I started going to yoga I have thought about how great it would be to teach it and spread it to more people. Well, I will soon have that chance. I know I haven't been practicing long, but I think that I am mentally and emotionally ready for the challenge, physically...well, I will get there. I know I am going to have many days of pain ahead of me, but I am trying to step up my practice now so I can be better prepared for September when I begin training.

I didn't bake at all last weekend because it was far too hot to turn on the oven. But, I now see that I should have. Last night one of the yogis at Shakti asked me where the cupcakes were, as he thought Tuesday was cupcake day. Apparently I now am in charge of yoga cupcakes.

It is cooling down for a few days at least, and for those of you who don't live here, it is still hotter than where you are, but I am glad it is going to be rainy today and I look forward to having 90 degree days instead of pushing 100.

The other day I went to WagTime. I started going here a month or two ago because I found out they sell the organic cat food that I feed my kitties and wanted to support my neighborhood. Well, the owner was so nice, she gave me about 20 bags of sample food to give my kitties and my cat colony!

Fire on P St

I was at Whole Foods last night and when I left the condos across the street were on fire. It was pouring rain and the firetrucks were on their way, so I decided to leave instead of stand around looking up at the building. (I had a backpack full of groceries and a bike to ride home in the rain).

Does anyone know what happened? I have been looking on the Post all morning and haven't seen any reference to it.

Back in the District

I hope you like pictures!

We had a great time in San Francisco. We would love to move there, so stay posted for updates...

These are our gracious hosts, John and Herb

Here is the token shot of the Golden Gate Bridge with Nate and I in front.

We went to Millenium, vegan mousse! I was VERY pleased with this meal

Not a very good shot, but we went to the Muir Woods and this little buddy was about 2 feet from us!

There was a wall in the Mission District covered in these signs, it was pretty genius.

It has been a rough week getting back into the swing of things, going back to work, cleaning my house (this has yet to happen), sleeping through the night, going to yoga. I finally went to yoga yesterday and slept through the night (coincidence, I think not).

I also decided for some hairbrained reason that I am going to try and go to yoga 30 times in 30 days. It will be interesting, but I think fun.

I found a recipe online for vegan white chocolate, if I can get all the ingredients at Whole Foods, then we know what I will be spending my Friday night doing! I also plan to make a strawberry vanilla cake on Sunday after I hit up the Bloomingdale Farmers' Market.

If you are going to San Francisco...

It has been over a month since I posted anything! I should be ashamed. Well, I am in San Francisco. Love it already, it was about 55 degrees when we got off the plane, that is enough to make me love anywhere. I am the only one awake, it is barely 6 a.m. here. I am not completely sure what we are going to do. Maybe go to Pier 39, maybe go to Golden Gate park, rent bikes, go to the Japanese Tea Garden. I definitely need jeans today, that is the top of the list. Tomorrow we are going to an ice cream social at Melisser's house!

Process for moving to San Francisco

• visit
• like the weather
• make friends
• find job

I am well on my way!

So, June...
Let's see, I had visitors from Michigan, we had a cookout (impromptu), rode the tandem, went to the beach (as evidenced by photos below), had Asylum brunch for the first time, ate vegan cheesecake at Bus Boys and Poets (why does my whole life revolve around food???). Well, I guess that is about it.





These parrots are lots of fun, and you get to keep the cup!

Sticky Rice

Last night we ventured out to Northeast to try Sticky Rice. It was quite good (even through my stuffed up nose!) Let's just say it is probably a good thing that this restaurant is not in my immediate neighborhood, otherwise I think a rather large portion of my paycheck would end up there every month. It is very cute inside, we sat upstairs and there are lots of umbrellas hanging form the ceiling. The strangest thing is that in the restrooms there are phones. These phones call the other restroom. I am not quite sure of the purpose, maybe you are having such a great conversation that you just can't wait? Perhaps you are on a bad date and want the person in the other bathroom to get you out of it? Or maybe you spotted someone across the restaurant and you wait for them to go to the bathroom so you can talk to them? Any option, I am sure it will come in handy to someone.

Okay, the food:
I ordered the vegetable tempura as an appetizer, the Tofu Max, the South Roll, and then Spicy Avocado Roll. All were delicious. Now, the tempura should come with a warning, "Do not order unless you have at least four other tempura lovers at your table". What I am trying to say it, there was a whole lot of tempura! I felt really bad because I cannot eat that much fried food and it doesn't keep well, so a lot went to waste. It was very good though. The Tofu Max is a roll with tofu, jalapeno, cilantro, and cucumber. I love all those things, so I knew it would be fantastic. The South Roll was also wonderful, tempura sweet potato with honey. The honey really brought out the flavor. The spicy avocado was of course amazing since it had avocado and anything with avocado is amazing (sorry Diana). I really want to try the garden balls, but they were out.

It only opened a week ago and they are still trying to get completely organized, but, overall it was a great experience and I will be going back.

If you go, ask for Emily or Rob. Not only are they cute, they are also my friends!

Jazz Garden

I was invited to Jazz in the (Sculpture) Garden tonight, and I really wanted to go. Sadly, I woke up feeling sick and I think it is best to stay in. Has anyone been? I think it sounds great!

I think Nathan gave me his sinus infection, and yes, I am aware that they are not contagious, but I will blame him anyway.

I had great time in Michigan last weekend, it was very nice to see my family and friends. Being there made me really miss it, but I don't think I would trade my life in DC to go back. I did get to do things I normally cannot do here: drive my brother Hummer, walk around in my parents backyard (!!!), play with my kitties and puppies that live in Michigan, go to the best farmers' market that I know, and eat a sandwich from Jimmy Johns! I was able to see a few friends, and the weekend was an easy pace, so I actually was able to sleep on this trip!

Too bad about the humidity and Carolyn's broken body, there was going to be a bike trip tomorrow that looks less and less attainable all the time.

O Street Market

I think something may be happening! I rode my bike by this morning and there was some sort of construction equipment! Maybe it has been there awhile and I just haven't been on P in a while. I am really excited to see what this will all look like!

DC Bike to Work!

Did anyone else ride their bikes to work? I know it wasn't the most pleasant weather, but Nathan and I rode the tandem. It is true, you cannot help but smile when you ride it! We also got a compliment from a three-year old riding on the back of her Dad's bike!

Good News

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/us/15cnd-marriage.html?hp

It finally happened! I hope that more states adopt this policy