DIET. Yes the word that all fat people like me fear. Is it fear like I can't do it, is it sadness like loosing a best friend, or is it guilt like the knowledge that what I have been doing up to now has not been working. What ever form it takes it is real and starting in a week. Yes a week.
Jo Ann and I have started a weight management class at the hospital. Our first class consisted of learning the objectives, meeting the people and last, setting a goal. My goal is to log my caloric in take and output for a week to get a base line as to how much I eat and how much I burn. I am sure the intake will be more than the burn. Whatever the outcome, there will be changes.
Be sure to keep an eye on the blog. I will be posting progress and hopefully useful information that may help you create better habits.
Harry
Monday, September 29, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce the countries debt and taxes.
Reuse the voting booth.
Recycle The Declaration of Independence.
We are a nation built on freedom. We are becoming a nation chained to debt and taxes. We use to be a country of "Do not ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country?" Stop punishing people and companies that are successful. Encourage growth and self reliance.
Remove the citizens in power when they take from productive people only to squander their gifts. Allow productive people the choice to give their gifts to programs that they believe in and help make successful. Let the free market decide the faith of business not the government.
Let us remember the ideas of The Declaration of Independence; when a government becomes destructive, it is the right of the people to change it or dissolve it.
I am not calling people to arms, I am asking people to stop and think about what is happening. We are not following the principals that were set forth in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. We have become a nation dependent on government, not independent. We rely on the government to take care of all of us; reducing our constitution.
I implore everyone to change. Debt is not the way, taxes are not the way either. Be creative, be productive, be generous, be aware. Eddy Izzard said it best "America only you and the Romans place their hands over their hearts. Lets not let history repeat itself.
Harry
Reuse the voting booth.
Recycle The Declaration of Independence.
We are a nation built on freedom. We are becoming a nation chained to debt and taxes. We use to be a country of "Do not ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country?" Stop punishing people and companies that are successful. Encourage growth and self reliance.
Remove the citizens in power when they take from productive people only to squander their gifts. Allow productive people the choice to give their gifts to programs that they believe in and help make successful. Let the free market decide the faith of business not the government.
Let us remember the ideas of The Declaration of Independence; when a government becomes destructive, it is the right of the people to change it or dissolve it.
I am not calling people to arms, I am asking people to stop and think about what is happening. We are not following the principals that were set forth in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. We have become a nation dependent on government, not independent. We rely on the government to take care of all of us; reducing our constitution.
I implore everyone to change. Debt is not the way, taxes are not the way either. Be creative, be productive, be generous, be aware. Eddy Izzard said it best "America only you and the Romans place their hands over their hearts. Lets not let history repeat itself.
Harry
Saturday, September 20, 2008
It Makes Me So Happy!
I love watching Iron Chef because I find it funny the way the judges describe the meal they are having. I thought I would never say, "It makes me so happy" after eating a meal but Yuzu changed that. Jo Ann and I went out to dinner in Beaverton on the recommendation of Portland Magazine. Of course we did not get directions and our Thomas Guide did not have a Metro Map of Beaverton. So after driving around and getting Jo sick, we found the place.
Upon entering the establishment you find your self in the dining room, yea no waiting area, no please wait to be seated sign or anything. We got there at 6:30 PM, they open at 6:00 PM, and Yuzu was full of people. The one and only server, quickly greeted us and informed us that we would not be seated till 7:30 PM. We came all this way lets get a snack and wait till our time.
The Best Teriyaki fast food place was just a few doors away in the same strip mall. Jo and I decide we can get a plate of noodles or maybe gyoza and some drinks to tied us over till 7:30. So Jo orders some gyoza and some drinks while I visit the restroom. To be honest I don't like to eat at most "Asian" Fast Food places and Best Teriyaki reminded me why. Enough said about that.
Promptly at 7:30 we arrive and there are still no tables for us to sit at. We are directed to the counter seating and at this point we are ready to have some food and from the smell we are in for a treat. Our server tells us that we will move to a table as soon as it is ready and hands us some menus. I open my binder to find 10 pages of choices. Beer, wine, sake, soft drinks and tea, appetizers, fried dishes, braised dishes, stewed dishes, noodles, etc. etc. etc. the list goes on and on. Too many choices!
Right after we are served our tea our table opens up. Jo and I sit and discuss what we are going to get. The duck, pork in sweet shoyu sauce, ika (squid) rings, and ramin in tonkatsu (pork) with egg noodles. We as our server if that is enough and she tells us that these are small plates and that she will leave the menu just in case we need it. Now we wait.
The first dish is sliced roasted duck breast served with a Japanese spicy mustard and green onions. Presentation is simple and a quick explanation from the chef allows us to full enjoy the duck. From the first bite I knew this was going to be a dinner to remember. The duck was a perfect medium rare and the spicy mustard added just the right amount of spice. I want more. Remember she did say small plates.
Next comes the pork in sweet shoyu. Just six one inch squares of meat and fat simmered in a sweet sauce. One bite and I think I have gone to food heaven. The Pork is tender and sweet and fatty and and and oh so good. Yes it is food porn at its best. I keep looking a Jo and the bowl of pork, back and forth waiting for her to turn away just for a moment so I can steal her portion. Then I remember the menu.
I quickly tell Jo to order more, "More of what? she ask. Anything I know I will love anything this guy makes I just need more. So be fore our ika arrives, we order chicken and tempura. The server takes our addition back to the chef and just like that my smile becomes bigger, hey you can even see some teeth.
Golden brown and delicious our ika is here. It is served with tonkatsu sauce on a bed of shaved cabbage. I did in and enjoy. My hashi (chop sticks) not missing a beat between plate and mouth. Perfectly cooked, the ika is tender not chewy and the sauce tangy. It isn't till Jo points out the sweet Japanese mayo that I realize I missed out on a flavor that would have enhanced the flavor of the tonkatsu sauce. There is always next time.
Before the last ika ring is eaten the chicken show up. Hot, not spicy, temperature hot, I care not, I use the reverse blow and chew. Crispy and salty goodness sears the roof of my mouth and I still stuff more in. I have gone food lust crazy. I must have it all. Jo tries a little lemon on her chicken. I thought it was just for decoration and I was wrong. A few drops of lemon juice changes the flavor and makes it even better.
Tempura is not my favorite Japanese dish. Jo loves it and she ordered it so I better have some. A first for me are peppers in tempura batter. They are great. I try them because Jo does not like super spicy food. The pepper turns out to delicious and not spicy at all. Besides the peppers, shrimp, carrot, and yam are served along with the usual dipping sauce. I have to admit for tempura it was very good.
The crowing jewel of the night, egg noodles in tonkatsu broth. Unbelievably good! It reminded me of a ramin shop in Osaka I went to over 23 years ago. No where in Hawaii or any other place on the mainland have I had noodles that tasted like I was in Japan. This was the best meal I have had in a long time. And I plan on making it to Yuzu a lot.
Dinner for the two of us was around $50.00 with tip. Oh I forgot to add gas and time, maybe a little more but worth every penny. If you want Japanese style dishes that are excellent, Yuzu will not disappoint. And I am sure it will make you say "It makes me so happy!"
Harry
Upon entering the establishment you find your self in the dining room, yea no waiting area, no please wait to be seated sign or anything. We got there at 6:30 PM, they open at 6:00 PM, and Yuzu was full of people. The one and only server, quickly greeted us and informed us that we would not be seated till 7:30 PM. We came all this way lets get a snack and wait till our time.
The Best Teriyaki fast food place was just a few doors away in the same strip mall. Jo and I decide we can get a plate of noodles or maybe gyoza and some drinks to tied us over till 7:30. So Jo orders some gyoza and some drinks while I visit the restroom. To be honest I don't like to eat at most "Asian" Fast Food places and Best Teriyaki reminded me why. Enough said about that.
Promptly at 7:30 we arrive and there are still no tables for us to sit at. We are directed to the counter seating and at this point we are ready to have some food and from the smell we are in for a treat. Our server tells us that we will move to a table as soon as it is ready and hands us some menus. I open my binder to find 10 pages of choices. Beer, wine, sake, soft drinks and tea, appetizers, fried dishes, braised dishes, stewed dishes, noodles, etc. etc. etc. the list goes on and on. Too many choices!
Right after we are served our tea our table opens up. Jo and I sit and discuss what we are going to get. The duck, pork in sweet shoyu sauce, ika (squid) rings, and ramin in tonkatsu (pork) with egg noodles. We as our server if that is enough and she tells us that these are small plates and that she will leave the menu just in case we need it. Now we wait.
The first dish is sliced roasted duck breast served with a Japanese spicy mustard and green onions. Presentation is simple and a quick explanation from the chef allows us to full enjoy the duck. From the first bite I knew this was going to be a dinner to remember. The duck was a perfect medium rare and the spicy mustard added just the right amount of spice. I want more. Remember she did say small plates.
Next comes the pork in sweet shoyu. Just six one inch squares of meat and fat simmered in a sweet sauce. One bite and I think I have gone to food heaven. The Pork is tender and sweet and fatty and and and oh so good. Yes it is food porn at its best. I keep looking a Jo and the bowl of pork, back and forth waiting for her to turn away just for a moment so I can steal her portion. Then I remember the menu.
I quickly tell Jo to order more, "More of what? she ask. Anything I know I will love anything this guy makes I just need more. So be fore our ika arrives, we order chicken and tempura. The server takes our addition back to the chef and just like that my smile becomes bigger, hey you can even see some teeth.
Golden brown and delicious our ika is here. It is served with tonkatsu sauce on a bed of shaved cabbage. I did in and enjoy. My hashi (chop sticks) not missing a beat between plate and mouth. Perfectly cooked, the ika is tender not chewy and the sauce tangy. It isn't till Jo points out the sweet Japanese mayo that I realize I missed out on a flavor that would have enhanced the flavor of the tonkatsu sauce. There is always next time.
Before the last ika ring is eaten the chicken show up. Hot, not spicy, temperature hot, I care not, I use the reverse blow and chew. Crispy and salty goodness sears the roof of my mouth and I still stuff more in. I have gone food lust crazy. I must have it all. Jo tries a little lemon on her chicken. I thought it was just for decoration and I was wrong. A few drops of lemon juice changes the flavor and makes it even better.
Tempura is not my favorite Japanese dish. Jo loves it and she ordered it so I better have some. A first for me are peppers in tempura batter. They are great. I try them because Jo does not like super spicy food. The pepper turns out to delicious and not spicy at all. Besides the peppers, shrimp, carrot, and yam are served along with the usual dipping sauce. I have to admit for tempura it was very good.
The crowing jewel of the night, egg noodles in tonkatsu broth. Unbelievably good! It reminded me of a ramin shop in Osaka I went to over 23 years ago. No where in Hawaii or any other place on the mainland have I had noodles that tasted like I was in Japan. This was the best meal I have had in a long time. And I plan on making it to Yuzu a lot.
Dinner for the two of us was around $50.00 with tip. Oh I forgot to add gas and time, maybe a little more but worth every penny. If you want Japanese style dishes that are excellent, Yuzu will not disappoint. And I am sure it will make you say "It makes me so happy!"
Harry
Friday, September 19, 2008
What Makes a Good Picture
I have been asked many times what makes a good picture? It depends on a lot of different things. Is it people, landscape, or special occasion? It it indoors, outdoors, or studio? etc. etc. If you are a professional it matters. For everyone else not so much. The question you should be asking is what kinds of things can I do to make my photos better?If you want to make things look bigger shoot your photo vertical and from a lower position than your subject. You will get a perspective of a person looking taller and more important.
Frame your shots with a tree or other elements. Great for groups and individuals.
Forget the zoom, move closer. The closer you are the better the light.
Use a tripod. It is a stable platform and allows you to be in the photo.
Take lots of pictures. The more you take the more you can choose from. We don't have time machines yet, so you can't go back and redo a missed photo or a photo that is out of focus.
Most important have fun.
I have taken many photos, from bugs on flowers to pictures of the stars and moons. Most were bad, some were good, and a few worth framing. Like any art it takes practice. Get your photos graded by another professional or artist. You won't win awards if you are the only one that likes your pictures. Opinions of others and suggestions to make your photos better, give you the edge to produce fine art.
Harry
Thursday, September 18, 2008
In The Beginning
I finally did it. I started my own blog. Yes, now I enter the ranks of millions of others who tell tales, give information and try to sway opinions. A voice seeking an audience to be understood, to debate, to share, to inflame, to help and to be heard.
Who am I? What am I? Does it matter? In the end it only matters to those who remain. The ones who seek answers. The people who need a voice. Someone to echo their thoughts and feelings. What matters most is the seeking of righteousness.
This is Rice Village.
Who am I? What am I? Does it matter? In the end it only matters to those who remain. The ones who seek answers. The people who need a voice. Someone to echo their thoughts and feelings. What matters most is the seeking of righteousness.
This is Rice Village.
Privacy Policy for ricevillage.blogspot.com
The privacy of our visitors to ricevillage.blogspot.com is important to us.
At ricevillage.blogspot.com, we recognize that privacy of your personal information is important. Here is information on what types of personal information we receive and collect when you use and visit ricevillage.blogspot.com, and how we safeguard your information. We never sell your personal information to third parties.
Log Files
As with most other websites, we collect and use the data contained in log files. The information in the log files include your IP (internet protocol) address, your ISP (internet service provider, such as AOL or Shaw Cable), the browser you used to visit our site (such as Internet Explorer or Firefox), the time you visited our site and which pages you visited throughout our site.
Cookies and Web Beacons
We do use cookies to store information, such as your personal preferences when you visit our site. This could include only showing you a popup once in your visit, or the ability to login to some of our features, such as forums.
We also use third party advertisements on ricevillage.blogspot.com to support our site. Some of these advertisers may use technology such as cookies and web beacons when they advertise on our site, which will also send these advertisers (such as Google through the Google AdSense program) information including your IP address, your ISP, the browser you used to visit our site, and in some cases, whether you have Flash installed. This is generally used for geotargeting purposes (showing New York real estate ads to someone in New York, for example) or showing certain ads based on specific sites visited (such as showing cooking ads to someone who frequents cooking sites).
You can chose to disable or selectively turn off our cookies or third-party cookies in your browser settings, or by managing preferences in programs such as Norton Internet Security. However, this can affect how you are able to interact with our site as well as other websites. This could include the inability to login to services or programs, such as logging into forums or accounts.
AdSense Privacy Policy Provided by JenSense
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)