bricology

I finally finished restoring my 1960s Danelectro. It was, quite frankly, MUCH more involved than I expected. Cutting and gluing the veneer over the front and back of the body and making a clear pickguard were the relatively easy parts. Figuring out how and where to mount the tailpiece, and doing the wiring were the hard parts. Still, I learned a lot, and it looks fantastic. It plays pretty well, although a couple of the switch positions don’t work properly and intonation is a little off, higher up the neck.

My wife and I did this in an ancient village church just south of Le Puy-en-Velay, in France. My wife, being a former Catholic, thought it was hilarious!

If it’s at all informative, I’ve been a vegetarian for about 25 years now, and a vegan for the past 8 years. IT IS NOT DIFFICULT. I’ve been a vegan while living in Europe and Japan, so if I can do it there, you can be a vegetarian anywhere (well, it might be difficult in the Arctic Circle).

The thing to realize is that being a vegetarian DOESN’T mean just substituting more vegetables for meat. A number of people have pointed out that it’s sometimes difficult to feel “full” this way, and I somewhat agree (although there’s a good argument to be made that “feeling full” and having enough fuel to run your body optimally are two different things, and that most Americans actually eat far too much food for their own good).

Also, most vegetarians just substitute more eggs and dairy for the meat they miss, which may make them feel better about “not killing animals”, but in fact is no less harmful to animals, and is just as bad for human bodies, with all of the bad cholesterol and so forth. (A laying hen actually has a worse life than most meat animals, and the veal industry is an inseparable part of the dairy industry.)

Here’s what I eat most days:

Breakfast: smoothie with 2 bananas, some frozen strawberries, about 12 oz. fruit juice and a heaping tablespoon of soy protein powder (any health food or bodybuilding store sells this). Blended up, it’s delicious, quick, and gives plenty of energy.

Lunch: sandwich on whole wheat bread with vegan mayonaise, mustard, a few slices of veggie luncheon meat, sliced tomato, half an avocado and lettuce.

Dinner: oven-roasted root vegetables with herbs and oil, a steamed vegetable (such as broccoli) with melted vegan margarine, and tofu or another soy protein, fixed like meat (pan-seared tofu with margarine and capers is a favorite).

I get plenty of protein, I’m in great physical shape, and I seldom feel hungry. When I do (in-between meals), I’ll grab a Clif Bar or Luna Bar or other sports/nutrition bar. What’s more, my system works great. Lots of energy, I seldom get sick when those around me do, and my digestive process runs like a Swiss watch, if you’ll pardon the simile.

I spend less per month on food than I used to when I ate meat or was a vegetarian, my LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) is so low that I’ll never have a risk of heart attack or arteriosclerosis, and I can look animals in the eye without guilt.

There are a couple of complications—it’s difficult to find things to eat when you’re out with friends, unless you live in an area like I do (San Francisco) with lots of vegan-friendly restaurants. While McDonalds won’t have much for you (which is just as well, considering the crap they sell), taquerias can make delicious non-meat burritos, any Asian food restaurant can make suitable food, and most other restaurants can accommodate you. And always keep a healthy snack, such as a Clif Bar with you; it keeps you from transgressing because you’re hungry while out and about.

Meet some other people in your area who are vegetarians or vegans, and find out where they eat. Maybe try potlucks or something similar. If your town is so small that they don’t have a healthy grocery store, look into on-line markets. They’re less convenient than shopping at a store, but no more expensive, and the selection is usually better. There are also scads of on-line support groups and recipe sites for veggies, so take advantage of them.

Good luck!