Vegetarianism Update

Live Pizza & Nachos//Blossoming Lotus, Portland, OR

Recently, 11 days ago to be exact, I became a vegetarian and my family became 90% vegetarian. This goal is one I have wanted to accomplish for almost 2 decades. When I was 16 and living on Martha's Vineyard, I became vegetarian and fell ill. Eating french fries and cheese pizza didn't work for me, and I soon returned to eating meat.

For years, I ate meat several times a day. Until we decided to watch Earthlings. Earthlings is a documentary narrated by Joaquin Phoenix who also happens to be one of my favorite actors. I was impressed to find out that he is vegan and very passionate about animal rights. Although it was very difficult to watch, I am SO glad that we did.

My husband is now a pescetarian. My daughter has only had meat twice since we switched. Most importantly, I am learning about so many new recipes. Who knew that there are so many options outside of meat! And I don't mean in packages; thus far, I have not had more than a bite or two of packaged faux meats. Much of my food at home has been made from scratch and with fresh ingredients like vegetables, spices, and grains like brown rice or quinoa. When we eat out we either go to Veggie Grill (so delicious) or find vegetarian options at mostly any restaurant. We have seriously reduced eating out since we made the switch. That is just another benefit of our new lifestyle.

Some of the new veggies I cooked this week are escarole, cabbage, bok choy, and leeks. Yes, I have tried all of them aside from escarole, but this time I prepared them. My favorite recipes of the week are a white bean and escarole soup with Parmesan and a red pepper, feta, and mint dip. Both so amazingly delicious! 

One thing I noticed right away is a feeling of lightness. Aside from the 6 lbs I have lost, my body just feels differently whenever I eat. I don't have a sense of being weighed down and slow like I did when I ate rich meats and too many animal products. This feeling is even more pronounced when I go the vegan route. Aside from feeling physically different, I have noticed an overwhelming sense of happiness even when in horrible situations. And yes, I have already had something horrible happen, but this sense of happiness and lightness has not gone away.

I am excited about this journey! Hopefully soon I can become more vegan than vegetarian, but for now I am trying both options and learning everything that I can! .

Dream Day!

Usually Dream Day is on Thursday, but I have been so busy. Instead, I will have a weekly Dream Day at some point every week. Rules and time don't go well for me, so this works. And although I did not update, it did not mean I was not dreaming and achieving, too.

My dreams this week are unlike those in my previous Dream Day posts. A few things have happened in my life that reminded me of the person I used to be when I was traveling the country. My priorities were so different, and I often long to return to those ways.

1. I hope to someday own a small family farm with goats, chickens, dogs, cats, and all sorts of animals!
2. Learn how to grow my own food including herbs, vegetables, fruits, and more.
3. Plant a native garden.
4. Learn how to shoot a bow and arrow.. fun!!
5. Learn to shoot a gun.

 This week has been life changing, and we are making changes that will make all my goals possible.

Today is day number 4 of being vegetarian!! After watching Earthlings in its entirety (I glanced at it once for only a second), we decided it was time for our family to go vegetarian/vegan. My husband is addicted to fish, so he agreed to only having it once or twice a week. That works for me. So far I have stayed away from fish, and although I want to eventually stop eating all animal flesh right now the focus is on the transition from meat everyday to meat hardly at all. The goal by the end of this year is a solid 50% vegan, 45% veggie, and 5% fish or meat that we know comes from a source that we trust. After watching that documentary, I don't know when I will be able to eat meat again, but I am trying to set realistic expectations. Our daughter still eats meat at school for now, but once she turns 11-12 I will show her Earthlings, take her on a tour of local farms where we would purchase our meat, and let her decide if she still wants to continue doing so.

And here is to another week of dreaming and doing! I need to get some rest.

<3

Lisbeth

Thursday is Dream Day!

Wow, I have some truly inspirational friends. Many of us are so busy that our talks are few and far between, but when we do speak I am always so energized and excited. Spent an hour chatting with my friend/cousin Esali in Phoenix about costume design, life, and goals. I was so excited when a few minutes after we finished our conversation, one of my oldest friends called me. Kristin and I don't speak nearly enough, so I cherish our hours of talking when we finally do get to converse. She is such an amazing person filled with creativity, passion, and ideas. After planning zine adventures at the Portland Zine Symposium next summer, it's almost 2 AM, and my mind is overflowing with ideas. If I wasn't so tired, I would work on a project, but after writing a new song and then this blog entry, I am pooped.

It is so easy to post for Dream Day after speaking with my lady friends! Stuff has been up really up in the air, with a move coming up and some changes in my academic plans, but none of it will change my dreams.

1. Launch my independent publishing company collaborating with artists all around the United States to create unique and handmade zines with vintage, photography, hand drawn, and mixed-media elements.
2. Release my EP based on a concept that is very dear to my heart, details TBA!
3. Someday design and release a full sized magazine.
4. Media production ranging from paper, to film, to music, and more.
5. Purchase amazing conga drums to use for Mercury Lust & Siamese Siren 
6. Collaborate with various models for Thriftgasm, update portfolio and increase inventory.

There are many changes on the horizon. Huge life changing events that will define the rest of our lives. At points, I lost my cool and became easily overwhelmed, but I pulled it together...fast. Moving to a small town, attending a gorgeous campus, and in living in a community where the environment and healthy eating are valued sounds great to me! The adorable historic home we end up paying much less for also sounds wonderful. Everything is going to be okay, and our family will come out stronger in the end.

Pixie

Pixie, I will miss you!!

Pixie has been my princess for half a decade, and in that short time we have been through so much. She came to me when she was just a kitten. Jonas her sister, came the night before and cried and cried until I finally gave in and brought her sister, Pixie.

Those cats urinated all over any home I moved into. It was horrible, yet I tried for years to make it work. Moving to Oregon meant that the cats were all in chaos. Pixie and Jonas become targets. Jonas didn't handle it well at all, and eventually it manifested into physical symptoms. We found her a home after spending hundreds at the vet. Pixie is a tough cat. She handled things well for so long, but eventually took to urinating all over the house, making my life a living hell. For years I fought for this cat, loved her like mad, defended her to my family and friends, but things didn't improve. Eventually I started to find blood. Then a very expensive leather bag ruined. Last, she urinated all over my expensive sofa.

We got Pixie a spot at the Oregon Humane Society who were very helpful and obviously genuinely cared about her well being. Pixie had an accident in 2009 where an ex-neighbor of mine hit her in the head hard enough for her to lose her left eye. It was a horrible experience, and I ended up evicted over my cats. This is why I say we have been through so much, but in the end, karma saved the day. Because she has been hurt, and is such a loving and friendly cat, people want to love her. Also, all my life, I have always saved and taken care of felines. At my own expense, I have done anything I can to help them. Well, guess what?! Pixie ended up with a space at a local cat rescue called The Cat Adoption Team! I love this non-profit and have known about it for years. Lucky girl as they usually have huge waiting lists.

I miss Pixie, but life at home has been so much calmer since she left. I know she will be happier somewhere else where she is the only cat and safe from being bullied by 3 other cats. My cats are happy, and it's been so peaceful. This was VERY hard for me and took me years to accomplish, but I know it was best for all involved. I hope she is happy in her new home.