Some Kind of Liver & Onions

Posted on September 2, 2011 | Leave a comment

Liver and Onions from Ma & Pa's Diner

What are you looking at is the liver and onions from Ma & Pa’s Diner in Sandston, VA.  Delicious, and plenty of it (try the fried chicken sometime).  Was the food organic or free range?  Not likely.

But it was, almost as importantly, Ma’s daughter who took my to-go order, Pa who bussed dishes while I waited, and Ma who rang me up.

Did I put any money into the hands of a faceless megacorp?  Indirectly I suppose, since there’s a 90% chance that Ma & Pa buy their food from PFG or some other massive restaurant supply company.

Ma & Pa’s Diner ain’t perfect, but then, neither am I.  And I feel a lot better giving my money to Ma & Pa than I do about giving it to purveyors of pink slime.

Leave a comment

Posted in Green

Tagged , , , , ,

Lots Going On

Posted on August 31, 2011 | Leave a comment

Update 7/18/19:  My club still uses the flag but we’re now called Cabal Fang Temple, and we’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational charity.  Visit our website or purchase our 12-week personal growth program at Smashwords, Amazon, B&N, or wherever fine e-books are sold.

————————–

Original post:

* The ‘Some Kind of Green‘ project is yielding results.  I feel better about myself, I’m more productive, and I’m saving money to boot.  If only I had done this 30 years ago.  * Started connecting with other like-minded bloggers (check my blogroll for cool people saying cool stuff).  Keep the faith my brothers and sisters!  * In two weeks my son and I will be spending three days off the grid practicing stone-age skills (since we can’t afford, and don’t want to drive 4.5 hours to attend, MAPS Meet #2 that weekend).  Sorry fellow MAPSsters 😦 * I’ll be attending the free Decolonization class at Wingnut 9/20, 9/27, & 10/4 and blogging about what I learn.  * My martial arts club, The Order of Seven Hills, will be tabling at Zinefest on October 8th.  The best stuff still ain’t for sale at big box bookstores!  * Re-writes of some of my unpublished books are under way and will be available for download at Smashwords by the first of next year.

Leave a comment

Posted in Green, Martial arts, Writing

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Some Kind of Storm

Posted on August 30, 2011 | 2 comments

One of them there "Saladz"

Yesterday was my first cheat under the plan.  Hurricane Irene threw a monkey wrench into my routine and I didn’t prepare for lunch Monday.  On the way to the office I stopped by Calhoun’s Country Store to grab something (trying to at least buy from a local merchant) and they were closed — no power.  Irene causing more problems.

Had to buy one of those “saladz” from the Megacorp’s Food/Gas/Beer Multiplex.

I am thankful that I was only a little inconvenienced by Irene.  Some people lost their lives to the power of nature.

For me, Hurricane Irene knocked out the power and simultaneously delivered quiet, peace, and the closeness of family. Crayons and cards by candlelight, guitar playing, sleeping in real silence, relaxation. A taste of what life could be like in a post-tech world.

I’m up early this morning, cooking for the week so that I can eat healthy food purchased locally.

2 Comments

Posted in Green

Tagged , , ,

Barker Says “Harming the Environment is a Sin”

Posted on August 26, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jesus

Harming the environment is a sin, according to some people (like Margaret

Barker).

Too bad everybody doesn’t think so.

Leave a comment

Posted in Green

Tagged , ,

Some Kind of Great BBQ

Posted on August 25, 2011 | Leave a comment

Hillbilly Red's BBQ

Wednesday is always dinner at Mom’s.  Last night, since I didn’t cook and my new rules forbid chain restaurants, I decided to try Hillbilly Red’s BBQ.  $20.00 for two people and there were leftovers.  Actual business owners cooking great food and taking the time to have a conversation with you.  It rocked.

Leave a comment

Posted in Green

Tagged , , ,

Some Kind of Fracking

Posted on August 24, 2011 | Leave a comment

Green Anarchy Flag

Last night I turn on the TV and before I can switch to Democracy Now!  I see a commercial sponsored by ANGA (America’s Natural Gas Alliance) talking about how natural gas is great.  It even illustrates fracking, and says how clean and awesome it is.  Wonderful.  Corporations with their PR experts and deep pockets will, I have no doubt, successfully scream over the voices of environmentalists and guys like Josh and his documentary Gasland.

Remember the old 60’s refrain, “Turn on, tune in, drop out?”  The only way to beat organizations like the ANGA is to tune out out advertising, turn off technology, and drop out of the consumer rat race.

My new mantra?  “Tune out, turn off, drop out.”

If you want to read more on the ANGA PR campaign, here’s a great article on the subject.

Leave a comment

Posted in Green

Tagged , ,

Breaking News: Earthquake Hits Richmond VA

Posted on August 23, 2011 | 5 comments

An earthquake shook Richmond VA for approximately 30 seconds at approximately 1:50 PM EST.  No updates on major news services as of yet.

5 Comments

Posted in Writing

Tagged , ,

Some Kind of Green: So Far

Posted on August 23, 2011 | Leave a comment

Stuff I got from Ellwood Thompson's

Although I’ve shopped at Ellwood Thompson’s before, my new perspective made it look a lot less ’boutiquey’ and way more practical.  Especially when I went to the cash register.  I got dried organic beans for $1.99/lb. which works out to about 85% savings over canned ones from the chain grocery.*  I also got roasted, salted peanuts for $1.99/lb. — not much savings there, but I got organic, so I made out.  Same with mixed nuts.  And since I bought bulk and used my own jars, there’s no packaging to go in the landfill.

Here’s where I am so far sourcing my food.  I’ve been getting local, free range, natural meat from Auburnlea Farms for quite a while now, so that’s covered.  Veggies have been coming from my Fertile Cresent Farm CSA, but that’s about over.  I’ll have to start hitting up one of the Farmer’s Markets soon.

Cheats:  Like I said in the set-up, my predefined cheats are coffee, tobacco, and razors.  I bought a 4-pack of disposable triple-blades.  Trying to find some that made from recycled material at least.

*If you’ve never cooked beans from dry, it’s a snap.  Soak them in water overnight (add lots of water — dry beans soak it up better than a Sham-wow).  Throw them in the crock pot on high for 4 hours or so.  Done.

Leave a comment

Posted in Green

Tagged , , , , , ,

Some Kind of Green : The Setup

Posted on August 22, 2011 | 9 comments

I mentioned in a previous post that I watched the movie END: CIV over at the Wingnut the other night.  In the wake of that experience I have restructured this blog.  There are now 3 categories: Martial Arts, Writing, and Some Kind of Green.  The Some Kind of Green category will be about my attempt at living differently.

“What’s with the name?”

There are the Bright Greens and then there are the Deep Greens.  I suspect both might be onto something.  I don’t know what color I am, I just know I’m ‘some kind of green.’

“What are you going to do?”

1. I will buy 100% of my food from independent farmers and grocers, and I will eat out only at indie restaurants.
2. I will freecycle, trade, dumpster dive, or make everything else when possible.  Failing that, I will purchase from yard sales, Craigslist, and indie charities like Books, Bikes, and Beyond Thrift Store.  Absolute worst case, I will buy used or refurbished goods from retailers.
3. I will recycle and learn how to compost.  The only disposable product I will buy is toilet paper.
4. I will not actively support popular entertainment.  I will buy all music, movies, etc. directly from indie artists, or pick up used CDs from yard sales, indie retailers, etc.
5. I will actively pursue cutting gas consumption by finding another way to get to work, working from home, etc.
6. I will try to find a way to invest in my future without investing in the stock market.

“Any exceptions?”

Yes: coffee, tobacco, and razors (without my Cafe du Monde and General Snus I’d be dead within 30 days; without razors my wife wouldn’t touch me).I have a wife, four kids, three grand-kids, and a host of friends who don’t see things the same why I do.  I’m going to take my wife to go see the latest blockbuster romance movie and have a beer with my buddies at the chain restaurant from time to time.  I will not allow my views to alienate me from the people I love.   But whenever I cheat, slip up, or otherwise break any of the rules, I will fess up publicly on this blog.

“Be honest dude!  Why are you doing this?”

Because I’m sick of feeling guilty and apathetic, and I’m ready to take responsibility for my actions.

9 Comments

Posted in Green

Tagged ,

Fanger Enters Tough Mudder

Posted on August 22, 2011 | Leave a comment

Cabalfang.com‘s webmaster (my son, aka “Spider”) will be running in the October 22nd-23rd Tough Mudder at Wintergreen, and he’ll be doing us proud in a Cabal Fang t-shirt.  More to come…

Leave a comment

Posted in Martial arts

Tagged , ,