Not in line with the Vegans

For the past couple months -- ever since receiving some unwelcome news -- I have been following a diet that has unfortunately been popularized by that group calling themselves "Vegans". A diet that excludes almost everything tasty -- including brats, calamari, sundaes, salami, mozzarella, tuna sandwiches, chili soup, quiche, deviled eggs, and the likes -- but makes plenty of claims to provide many healthful benefits is worth a try.

The term Vegan is not one that I prefer. It brings to mind those in the radical movement who reject the use of animals for any human benefit. True Vegans reject the Biblical principles regarding man's rule over the animal kingdom, and man's right to use animals to meet his needs (see Genesis 1:28, 3:21, 9:3, Deut 25:4). True Vegans would reject the use of animals in farming, transportation, cooking, clothing, pharmaceutical development, warfare, trade deals (e.g. dowries), eating, and bacon, siting that it is abusive to the animal to be used by man for his benefit. A true Vegan would let the animals roam meaninglessly about the earth without any hope of profitable employment. I reject that animals should lead a meaningless existence of wandering the earth without the pleasure of serving mankind in meaningful employment. Everyone deserves a sense of purpose, including those in the animal kingdom. So I am not Vegan.

What drives someone to become an eater of things solely non-animal? Perhaps one thing is the desire to be odd. That certainly fits. Another may be the health benefits. A notable benefit is the agent sulforophane, a precursor of which is found in broccoli, radishes, and mustard. This is reported in peer-reviewed journals as being an anti-cancer agent. Many such molecules have been noted in other fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, and spices. A dearth of which are found in meats and other such animal products. The one thing I miss is butter.

The thing that particularly interested me as I surveyed the "Vegan" world is the innovative use of soy products. This is what spurred me to write this whole episode. Soy is the wonder food of the vegan world. It can be processed, shaped, modified, solidified, fermented into just about any imaginable form, taste, and texture. If one wants a hamburger, form one from soy and top with ketchup and mustard. If one wants yogurt, used cultured soy milk. If one wants cheese, buy a bag of shredded soy cheese. The list is endless. Here is what I've come up with so far: soy milk, soy burgers, soy yogurt, soy cheese, soy eggs, soy bacon, soy sandwich "meat", soy brats, soy sour cream, soy mayo, soy butter. And then the recipes you can make using soy as a meat substitute is endless. To compete, the meat industry may have to start on a meat based tofu substitute.

So how would I summarize my current eating habits? They are certainly different from that of the Vegan in that my motivation is totally different. I reject the label "Vegan". Well, I think titles are silly anyway. I'm doing my best to eat healthful foods that will do more good than harm based on the latest research and knowledge, filtered through my keen and discerning eye. Other filters are welcome, and advice will always be well-received, although not always followed.

How Time Flies

I was eavesdropping on a conversation recently -- probably that of one of my faithful readers -- in which the topic was how the summer months fly! Everyone gets that feeling as they get older. I remember in grade school and high school how the summer used to go on forever. But in recent years it has seemed to fly by. I'm not sure why. One of the parties in the conversation surmised that it was because we tend to wake up the same time, go about the same morning routine, go about the same afternoon routine, go about the same evening routing, go about the same nighttime routine, go about the same sleeping routine, repeat. Thus day one blends into day 10, blends into day 100, blends in with the last day of summer. And it's over.

The suggested solution was Do something new every day. In that way, every day becomes a unique time point against which to measure the passage of time. One can distinguish between day one and day 10. Each day has a unique purpose. No day is alike. An interesting concept.

I began thinking about how many unique things I could come up with to do. My list was pretty short. I've often thought about putting a list down on paper. If I did that, it might be a little longer. But the list in my head was short. It kind of resembled the routine in the first paragraph. Along with the problem of putting together a list comes the problem of motivation. When the summer starts, but days seem endless. One gets the feeling that it will never end, so why start worrying about how to fill the days now! Well, I'm coming to the point in life, like an old person, that I realize there's probably not endless days in sight -- so start thinking of some things to do. That's not very motivating.

What is motivating to me is making those lists. When I see something on paper, I go after it for a few days. So, my job for a few minutes each day is to make a list of things to do, and then figure out how to do them. Lists are very motivating -- more motivating for me than even, say, someone nagging me to get something done -- much more motivating. When someone nags me to do something, my response is to put it off. When my list tells me to do something, I'm more prone to do it! Weird? I'm not sure. But it seems to work. Now all I have to do is find motivation to make those lists each day! I'm not sure why the lists work, but they do.

Obligatory post on the fact that neither my life nor yours will go on forever

I'm not going to die. Or perhaps I should say, I won't be the only one to die. Most likely, under ordinary circumstances, everyone will die somehow at sometime, and I too. I'm more certain of this than Harold Camping was certain of the date of the Final Judgment! I've always been an extremist! It runs in the Bonner family. Dad Bonner is certain of a global government conspiracy. Brother Bonner is certain he can solve all the world's business problems. Niece Bonner is certain she needs more chickens. . . Point made.

This I use to usher in the bad news that I will probably go sooner than most my age. The doctor wasn't too optimistic when I saw him three weeks ago. Yes, I'll chug on for a few more years, and hope is that more treatments will become available as I exhaust current treatments. But current treatments are not too plenteous. My disease has metastasized, meaning that it has come back in various other parts of my body. Metastatic cancer is somewhat hard to treat, and I emphasis that “somewhat” is an understatement. Fortunately, I have no symptoms, no pain, no distressing annoyances associated with having large masses invade my body. The only side effect of hearing this news is some disheartenment, which does not last long, and does not come often.

This prompts my thinking on death, for which none would fault me, and all should thank me. I shall try not to write too frequently on this subject. But I thought it important to get it out there since it is the present reality. To emphasize, I present you again with the fact that all will die. You can't exclude yourself, and only for a little while can you avoid thinking about it. So go ahead and think about it. The least it can do you is good.

The next more pleasant topic: I don't fear death. Why? Because death has been conquered. Death has no more sting. Death has nothing in it for me to fear. “To die is gain”. Do you see my black cloak, my nails and hair died jet black? No. I don't speak as some depressed, headbanging, blood obsessed goth. My hope doesn't lie in the treasures I have on earth. Certainly I love my family, my dog, and all my valuables. But they aren't everything to me, and I don't mind leaving them behind (I do plan to use Latin dancing in heaven – I'm sure it will be a useful skill). Other than that, though, I'm not to obsessed with what I have here. You probably know why I speak in such a way. If you don't, please ask. I'm happy to give an account for my hope.

Ah, I was going to leave you with a reenactment, as promised in previous short post. Here's how a bad visit with the oncologist goes:

Enter Doctor

Doc: How's your energy been? Any problems sleeping? And your appetite?. . . .

Doctor pauses, hesitantly

Doc: These are just my usual questions I ask. . .

Adam: (Interrupting) No they're not. Usually you come in and immediately tell me my scans are clear. . .

Here's how it usually goes, and how it was supposed to go:

Enter Doctor

Doc: Adam, your scans are clear!

Adam: Great doc.

Doctor Examines patient

Exeunt Adam and Doctor

Coming attractions

A new post is in the works, and it includes a reenactment! Stay tuned!

Dear Cancer,

I think it's time we be honest with each other. This on again-off again relationship over the past year is not a healthy thing. Late last year, we broke things off, and I really thought that you were never coming back into my life. I realize now just how much you must have missed me, but I've moved on. I have plans to get on with my life: a job, new friends, maybe even a new apartment. The truth is, other things have become more important to me. But then you come roaring back in, missing me something awful, moving all your stuff back in like you own the place.

I realize that we've been through a lot together. We've had some great times, and some painful times. But frankly, the good times we had together, they were mostly aberrations, when you weren't acting yourself. I really don't care for your typical demeanor, nagging, and constant demands on my attention.

There was a time when I thought that you and I were meant for each other. We had a lot in common, at least I thought. We were so close. We shared the same food. Even shared cloths most of the time. But this is so superficial.

I'm willing to give you another chance, but there's a condition that you must agree to: therapy – every other Thursday. It won't be pleasant. There's a lot of things we have to work through. Please, take me at my word, it will be for the best – for me at least. And when our course of therapy is over, I will drink to your death! Please don't take this the wrong way.

Yours truly, for now,

Adam

Learning the "Modern" ways

Thinking back 6 years ago does not strain my brain. It seems like just yesterday that I was looking for a job. I've had a resume since my freshman year in high school when my computer teacher required that we all scramble to gather up our meager work histories. That was a stretch to say the least. I remember putting together a list that looked something like this:

Mow Grandpas lawn: 1990 - 1995

Work on Uncle's computer: 1995 - 1995

Do chores around the house: since day 1 - Present

And then there was the part about "relevant course work". That was my first year in high school, by George! What coursework did I have? I could have listed my 4th grade experience, when I whipped through my 6th grade math book in a couple months. That surely would have impressed the potential employer of a high school student!

More to the point, though, in 2005 I had a real, paper resume. In my job search, I had pinpointed dozens of companies, found addresses for HR, printed out custom cover letters, and had them sent off by United States Postal Service. I wasn't completely old fashion. I posted my resume on Monster and applied online to dozens more advertised, open positions. All of this to no avail! I don't remember receiving a single response.

I now recognize that that method had become outdated several years before that. I ultimately found a position through face-to-face networking.

I now sit to revise my resume for the second time in 6 months. I find that my past resume was too narrowly focused on specific details of what I have done. Not enough broad thinking to recognize relevant skills across disciplines. I've now studies numerous up-to-date resumes, and it's time to put the finishing touches on mine. As I'm doing this, I also recognize there is a dearth of information in my sections titled "Professional Affiliations" and "Volunteer Experience". It's not that I haven't realized the importance of these sections to everyday life. These are things I should have been doing without concern for resume building, just as part of a well-rounded life. It's a nice bonus that they make for a well-rounded resume. But during a normal working career, volunteering gets crowded out. This will be a topic for another day, but I mention it now because it does go with the resume.

The point of this particular entry is to make note of the methods that I'm learning for the modern job search. Here seem to be the components of value. I list first the methods I'm using, followed by the methods I need to get started on:

• Networking via LinkedIn
• Networking via college alumni sites
• Headhunters
• Applying to specific jobs online

Methods I haven't yet used but should:

• Face-to-face networking
• Speed networking (sounds too close to speed-dating for my comfort)
• Twitter
• Talking to every stranger I can meet

Finally, methods I will not be using:

• Sending paper resumes via USPS

Is this ever a change to my old ways! Updates will appear as I discover what works and why.

A Plug for Google Reader

Good health has given me a chance to play around online more than usual and work more at keeping up with other people. I was sitting in the coffee shop a few days back, and I noticed several computers with Facebook open and active the entire time (mine included). This seems to be most people's idea of "keeping up with people". I am not sure how most people make use of Facebook. I spend my hours refreshing to see who's posted the latest update, who's liked a comment or status of mine (after finding a 'like', I immediately pat myself on the back for having a "good" post). Occasionally I have a need to actually communicate with someone and I have to break away in order to send a private message. But then it's right back to the routine.

I generally consider the above to be wasting time. It seems to be an addiction. "The evil which I would not, that I do." In addition to wasting my time, it often distracts me from reading the things I should read and keeping up with personal blogs etc of friends. But because out of sight is out of mind, I rarely visit these sites / blogs in my daily browsing. Here's where Google Reader comes into play. I ran into it by accident one day when I was inquiring into RSS feeds, of which I formerly knew nothing. Clicking on the RSS icon of one of my favorite blogs lead my to Google Reader, and now, reciprocally, Reader guides me to my favorite blogs.

With Reader, blogs are no longer out of sight. Rather, they flaunt themselves in bold print every time there's a new posting. New postings are now almost impossible to miss, even when I want to. And I'm not limited to following must blogs with the RSS logo. I can punch in any website that changes on occasion, and Reader "creates a feed" for it. I'm not sure what that entails technically, but it sounds pretty neat to me. No longer do I have to waste time keying in the addresses to the sites I want to check, only to be disappointed that it hasn't changed since last time I was there. Now, it's all right in front of me, "In sight, in mind".

This is all a good start. Having interesting material popping up in front of me should distract me from my FBing and keep me reading new and interesting stuff. Now, is there a website that will inspire me to analyze and do something with this information?