the moon and the animals

i took some pictures of the August full moon
with a side of black cloud...
the animals? i am still vegan
and i will forever be
i still go to bed thinking that somewhere
there is an animal suffering locked in a cage
waiting to be slaughtered, horrified, and in pain
while humans sleep nicely waiting for tomorrow's breakfast
my only regret about veganism, not have done it before
why was i blind to their pain?

a short tale, for a little-abandoned blog
better today, a bit, than none at all

August Full Moon, click to look closer

let's talk

"to our mom, she's been blogging too little, and spending too much time in Facebook and Twitter..."
~ Frau Kitty on a serious conversation with Herr Gato about my social media habits (I fear an intervention soon!)

Frau Kitty and Herr Gato plotting something

Philip Wollen - Animals Should Be Off The Menu debate

Please stop torturing animals and your health!
Listen to Philip Wollen, ex-vice president of Citibank
and now animal rights advocate
and vegetarian!
His pledge against animal cruelty and human health!

vegan food

these are some of my simple every day vegan dishes

avocado sandwich with green onions, cilantro, tomatoes on sprouted bread

fresh fruit and raw veggies are a great snack, easy to find organics in California

vegan lemonade, with maple syrup, organic lime juice and the secret ingredient: ground fresh ginger for a spicy touch!

the juicing basket! except for the avocado, I eat avocados often, California is the land of the avocados!

kale, white mushrooms, walnuts and blueberries salad with homemade vinaigrette, it was fantastic!

one of my favorite dishes, homemade veggie soup!

The International Summer Organ Festival Opening Night

Last Monday night was the opening night for the
The International Summer Organ Festival,
with Carol Williams, marimba player Kengo Ito,
and the bagpipes band from the House of Scotland
It was a great night to start a great San Diego Summer Tradition
some pictures I took, and remember!
the party goes on all through July and August!
in case you are having a boring Monday night!
Here more information
http://sosorgan.org/index.htm
and tonight's program
http://sosorgan.org/programs/program130707.pdf

Dr. Carol Williams - Civic Organist

Carol Williams and  Kengo Ito, marimba artist

Kengo Ito, a super talented young marimba artist

Carol Williams composed an organ piece for her dog Dietrich, called Dietrich Dilemma, the dog came on stage with his tuxedo, to listen to his piece!

surely my favorite part was the combination of organ music and the wonderful House of Scotland Bagpipe Band!

House of Scotland Bagpipe Band

Balboa Park is so romantic at night!

a couple by the fountain

a complete view of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, another San Diego jewel

Making the Connection film from the Vegan Society

This is the summary of an inspirational 30 minute film
made by the Vegan Society about vegan lifestyle
please take a look and always consider stop using animals
not only for food but for clothing, supplements, etc.
Humanity will only survive through compassionate living!


If you would like to watch the complete 8 chapters
Please visit this link:
http://www.vegansociety.com/resources/making-the-connection.aspx

GO VEGAN!

vegan

I think the last piece of chicken I ate

Was around early April, after feeling dizzy

A minor health scare and watching a bunch of health related movies

On Netflix on juicing and healthy eating

I came across Vegucated, and that made it

Since early April I am vegetarian

I would like to say that I am a 100% vegan

Meaning NO animal products

Yet, I had some yogurt at home and some parmesan cheese

I had to “finish”, and a couple of times I have come across

Food that has cheese crumbs (a spinach salad from Bread and Cie)

With nuts and some goat cheese; and I had some pizza at work,

The vegetarian kind, but had cheese, so I would say

I am 80% vegan these days?

Looking forward to be 100% vegan…

Some friends have asked me for how long I would eat a vegan diet

I am planning to do it for the rest of my life!

Health is one issue, YET never filling sick has stopped me

From eating another piece of chocolate or a cake

No señor!! But with veganism the force that is driving me

Is much stronger, I am not doing only for health reasons

I am doing it ‘because I know what it takes to get meat,

Beef, pork, and chicken to your table,

I know all the suffering, the killing, the slaughtering

The pain, and the insanity that is killing an animal

Just to get it on your plate…

The very first days I quit eating chicken (which by the way

Are the most abused animals ever!!!) Whenever I craved

A piece of chicken I only had to remember what I read on

This interview with a person who worked at Tyson chicken

All the pain, suffering and anger inflicted not only to the chickens

But to the humans working on the slaughter houses!

Anyway I started writing this doc days ago and then

I got side tracked but the bottom line is:

The healthy side of the vegan diet

has been just a wonderful "side effect";

my real motivation is to NOT contribute to

the torture of animals who are killed in

the industrialized farming factory system

which is out of control and lacks compassion mainly in the US!

More on this issue soon

If you care about animals, please help stopping the slaughtering

I found this old post from 2010
read all the quotes after the picture!

It’s been long since I’ve been considering becoming vegetarian

Or vegan, but I thought it was a “hard” thing to do,

Now, I’ve been vegan for a couple of months

And it’s the BEST decision I’ve made in a long time!

the Summer cats

the summer cats
die Sommerkatzen 
los gatos de verano

it's not the Summer just yet
but Herr Gato and Frau Kitty are ready for it!
Frau Kitty got her new Summer 2013 cardboard house
and she already doesn't want to get out of there
Herr Gato soothes himself from the fact of
not being able to fit in any house, by sunbathing
on a cardboard box on top of the lounging chair
(I know the sun is not bathing yet, but soon, it will...)

San Diego is sunnier than ever but not too hot yet
wonderful weather and enjoying the company
of these lovely felines!

"I am not leaving this sunny home ever!" ~Frau Kitty

"I wish I could fit in one of those houses..." ~Herr Gato

walking Presidio Park

last weekend I went for a quick walk
to one of my favorite places in San Diego
Presidio Park, a lovely jewel of this city
anytime I know Balboa Park is going to be too crowded
or whenever I want a peaceful walk, there is
Presidio Park in Old Town
is almost never busy... I only encounter
hikers, people working out, and yes!
photographers! also the occasional picnic
I was just going for a walk, but then I had
my old point-and-shot in my purse
therefore...

refreshing juice, refreshing music

a picture of my morning juice!
I use carrots, ginger, lime, cucumbers, chards, kale
celery, beets, and other veggies or fruits, parsley
the recipe changes every morning depending on
what I have available, but usually the carrots are not missing

it's so refreshing!

and refreshing too is great music!
so a link to KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic from today
with a live show from The Shout Out Louds
I didn't know this band, I really liked them!
with great music! nice way to begin a 3-day-weekend!