yogita chiquita

Thanks raven, how nice of you to say! Gabriel (the snake) is a sweetie pie, he's much more gentle than the cat, that's for sure! I never would have thought to have a snake, about 8 years ago, though, Gabe got kind of imposed on me, and I've had him on and off (mostly on) ever since. You know, b/c she's a shelter dog (they had her as sib. husky at the shelter), I've never been 100% certain of her breed and have sometimes wondered if she is part malamute, just b/c of her colorations and stalky build - most sib. huskies seem more trim to me. She's lacking the curling tail, though, and she only weighs in at about 65 pounds...the world may never know! Your malamutes are so cute, they look like pups in that pic! I wish I knew Indy when she was a pup! That's b/c we have so much to be happy about!

Up there is Amy the German Shepweiler and Clementine the Serial Killer Cat! http://myspace-899.vo.llnwd.net/00296/99/82/296072899_l.jpg A more accurate portrial of the happy couple, I'm thinkin... http://myspace-110.vo.llnwd.net/00241/01/17/241587110_l.jpg Just me... http://myspace-845.vo.llnwd.net/00360/54/88/360618845_l.jpg Indy, the senior member of the pack! http://myspace-105.vo.llnwd.net/00360/50/16/360606105_l.jpg and that's Gabriel. Our happy little family!

I'll check it out, thanks!

This is always a tough question to answer when speaking to non-veg types. Usually, it is asked over a meal where someone is inevitably shoving some carcass down their throat. I don't know about everyone else, but I just don't think the topic can be seriously addressed in that environment, obviously they're going to justify why they're eating what's in front of them, whether it be verbally or in their own head. And their justifications are always half-assed, IMO, b/c sad to say, I don't think many people think about where their food comes from beyond whether or not it was on sale at the huge chain grocery store that imports half-ripe, genetically modified, pesticide ridden foods from all corners of the world while exploiting the land of the people who grow it...They're not usually asking the vegan question with honest curiousity, but more to use it as a vehicle to justify why they eat the way they do. For some reason they need that gratification - they need the protein or they don't know what they would eat if they didn't eat meat or being vegan just seems boring. Almost everytime I get asked this question, there seems to be an attempt to make me seem like the weirdo, even when it comes from people who seem to have the best intentions. I was having a discussion about sugar not long ago, and I admitted that not all the sugar I eat is vegan - sometimes I will eat candy or buy non-vegan in a pinch if I need it to bake or something. I could just see the victory dance in the non-vegan's eyes when I admitted that, it was like, "ok, she's not perfect, it's alright if I eat meat." In general, people see it as a sign of weakness if they find out they were wrong all along and are put in a position to have to change their minds in order to do the right thing. Instead, most will deny the existance of the problem so as not to admit they were ever wrong. New ways of doing things, new traditions, even if people know they're right, are rarely received with open arms. For some reason, I liken it to slavery (are animals kept in factory farms really dissimilar to slaves?). The plantation owners used slaves for generations and generations, nobody questioning if it was right or wrong b/c that's what they always did. I like to think that someday eating meat will be the same way, right now people do it, in part, b/c they don't know another way. Maybe that will change. So, why am I vegan? When I first became vegetarian, it was basically all environmental reasons, we all know what those are. I wanted to preserve our Earth, and eating animals is contradictory to that goal. I knew in the back of my mind that using animal products at all was contributing to environmental woes, but I felt good knowing that at least I was contributing less. In the beginning, I was of the opinion that if an animal was killed in a humane way and not pumped full of hormones etc, that there was nothing wrong with eating them, but I still opted not to basically b/c I knew that there was no way of knowing, unless I killed the animal myself, that it was done humanely. My opinion has since shifted. I read "Slaughterhouse" by Gail Eisnitz and saw that "Meet your Meat" video on PETA. I got out of denial. There is no way to humanely kill anything or anyone. I don't think that I should have the power to decide if someone lives or dies for my appetite when there is plenty of other food that I can eat. I found that I couldn't contribute another cent to something that I feel is so destructive to our world and to other species.

Greetings from across the pond! Welcome aboard!

Hi SB! I find pilates to be a form of torture, personally, mainly b/c you certainly FEEL like your abs are getting the workout of their life, especially if you go to an hour long class. I used to go to a class, but not with enough regularity to be able to comment on results. I even bought a DVD to try it at home, but again, I don't do it enough, I'm much more of a class gal. That and having 2 dogs that shed makes it completely undesirable to be on the floor of my house - having to vacuum before working out is just overwhelming to me! I recently started going to a yoga studio that offers pilates and am thinking of getting back into it, my schedule has changed so I can fit it in. The thing about pilates is, you're in these postures and you're constantly having to contract most of your muscles, especially core ones, so I can't see how it would be not worth it. If you start going, let me know what you think, and I'll do the same!

Thanks for the warm welcome, I feel all cozy inside! Yeah, thought a fun name was in order, I am the Mexican Yoga Guru afterall... That's Indy, our sweet ol'husky, one of the members of our "pack." You've got a lovely tuxedo cat there yourself! Right on, Sugar! There is a snowboarding forum that I go to, which is very informative about snowboarding, but I get the impression that there's lots of young'un's on that site - not that you can't be young and informative, but I think that sometimes they can't help themselves from being, well, immature. Not so sure I have lots in common with most of them. So, no, I'm not a bodybuilder, but this is a community with similar mission to my own - living a healthy, cruelty free life - I'm thinking I'll learn lots from being here!

Yep, he's finbarrio, I know he just joined recently. He's been telling me I need to take a gander at your site, that it's more than just bodybuilding, so here I am! Hoping to broaden my vegan horizons a bit here! Recipes, working out, whatever! Thanks for the welcome!

Thanks for sharing this, Robert. I tend to agree with Crash, that this essay alone might not just outright convert people, but the more and more this type of research and information rises to the surface, the more it will invade peoples minds, whether they agree with it or not. I was a die hard meat-eater for years and years growing up an into my early 20's, but the more I learned, the more I became exposed to, the closer I started to lean to a vegetarian, and then years later, vegan, lifestyle. The whole state of world in regards to food and water really freaks me out. An interesting book for anyone who is interested is "Harvest for Hope - A guide to mindful eating" by Jane Goodall.

Hi VK, I'm new here, too! I went from veggie to vegan about a year ago, it looks like all the info and support for a smooth transition is right here. Definately screwed up a few times in the transition, but you live and learn. I was suprised at how easy it was to eliminate stuff from old recipes to make them vegan! I'm sure you'll do fine!

Hey, like my name?

My hubby was right, this really IS a great site! I just wanted to introduce myself - I'm Kristy and I've been vegan for almost a whole year! This is one of the best things I've ever done - for animals, for the earth, for myself - I'm very proud of it! I'm excited to have the opportunity to pick the brains of like-minded folk, it's going to be nice not to feel like the odd-gal out for a change! Alittle about me - recently married and loving it, I've recently started going back to a formal yoga class after a long hiatus with the occassional self-instruction (I'm just not disciplined enough to do a good job on my own!), and I love snowboarding. It'll be nice to meet everyone, thanks for having me!